Bianca Bustamante is in full throttle. After stunning in her first F1 Academy season, the 18-year-old racer is moving on to greater heights. She has made history as the first female driver to sign with the McLaren Driver Development program for the upcoming 2024 F1 Academy season. Just how awesome is this for Bustamante, for Pinoys, and for women in racing? If you want to keep an eye on her journey to the finish line, here’s where can you watch her races live.

Racing to the top

Bustamante practically grew up in a world of racing, thanks to having a former karter as a father. She was only 6 when she won her first international race in the Macao International Kart Grand Prix.

In 2023, she drove for PREMA Racing during F1 Academy’s inaugural season, an all-female junior formula category single-seater championship. This young driver from Laguna wowed the racing world with her achievements. Last May, she claimed her maiden victory at the Sprint Race of Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. Bustamante followed that up with her first Feature Race triumph in Monza last July.

Prior to these two races, she also secured a third-place finish at the Austria’s Red Bull Ring, later being elevated to second place due to her opponent’s technical infringement.

Decked in papaya orange for 2024

Even before her first F1 Academy season ends, Bustamante is already looking forward to the future. She just inked her partnership with McLaren and is set to drive for ART Grand Prix in her second year in F1 Academy. We’ll soon see her racing with McLaren’s iconic “Papaya” team livery!

Signing for the McLaren Driver Development program is a step on Bustamante’s journey up the motorsport ladder. The program creates talent pipeline for three motorsport categories: McLaren Formula 1 Team, Arrow McLaren Indycar Team, and the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.

“Congratulations, [Bianca]! It’s an honor to represent the Philippines and McLaren in the F1 Academy. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey to success! #ProudFilipino #McLarenF1Academy,” read one post on X.

“So proud of her!! Omg what a day to be a Filipino,” said another fan.

Where can you watch Bianca Bustamante race?

As F1 Academy heads into its final race of the season, Pinoys can cheer for Bustamante and watch her race live on the beIN Sports Connect app. The race will be held on the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas where Bustamante hopefully secures her spot within the top-5 of the driver standings. Alternatively, you can also catch previous F1 Academy race highlights on the Formula 1 YouTube channel.

An achievement for women everywhere

Bustamante’s achievement is the result of all her hard work throughout the years. If you follow her on Instagram, you’ll see her training non-stop for races, even on her off days. She’s certainly a dedicated and competitive racer! The Pinay teen is not only making Filipino motorsport fans proud, but she’s also paving the way for women all over the world to dream big and conquer even in a male-dominated sport.

So don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 2024 F1 Academy Race and cheer for Bustamante! Here’s the schedule:

• ROUND 1 | March 7 to 9, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• ROUND 2 | May 3 to 5, Miami, United States
• ROUND 3 | June 21 to 23, Barcelona, Spain
• ROUND 4 | August 23 to 25, Zandvoort, Netherlands
• ROUND 5 | September 20 to 22, Marina Bay, Singapore
• ROUND 6 | November 29 to December 1, Lusail, Qatar
• ROUND 7 | December 6 to 8, Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi

We definitely can’t wait to see her race to the top of the motorsport world. Best of luck, Bianca!

Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube, to be the first to know about the latest news and coolest trends!