A 19-year-old girl trying to carve her own path in the world of F1. Bianca Bustamante We are moving forward at full speed.
As McLaren’s development driver, Bustamante has made waves in the racing world, from her youth and energy to her huge social media presence. 1.6 million followers On Instagram.
In an exclusive interview our weekBustamante said he has no plans to slow down.
“I have faced the challenges, I know the barriers, I know the financial challenges of pursuing a career in motorsports,” Bustamante said. “I went through all that and told myself many times that I would never make it. I was constantly told by people around me, even family and friends, that I could achieve something in life if I dreamed less. “After hearing that, I was still very motivated.”
Born in the Philippines, Bustamante began racing at the age of five. As a member of ART Grand Prix in 2023 and a two-time F1 Academy winner, she is committed to shattering existing stereotypes of what F1 is. You can be a driver.
“You can see steps being made every day,” Bustamante boasted. “The public, outsiders, may not hear it or see it yet, but action is being taken. “It’s truly amazing.”
Bustamante credited the sport’s many “male allies” for helping push the sport forward.
“Change doesn’t happen overnight, change doesn’t happen overnight,” she said. “Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s a constant effort and education from everyone to make sports a more inclusive space. “It’s not just me, it’s the people behind me too.”
Bustamante added: “I’m so excited to be on the front lines of breaking down these barriers… That’s always a good thing, right? Please pass the torch to the next generation. “I don’t want the next generation to go through the hardships I went through.”
Bustamante is very confident about his place in the F1 world, but admits things are a bit more complicated when it comes to juggling a racing career with a personal life.
“Honestly, I think that’s the hardest thing,” she explained. “There is one thing I am still working on. It doesn’t get any easier. You learn how to transition from one person to another. I think also realizing that the persona you have – the athlete, the racing driver, the person you see in the interview – that’s the job. It’s your career. But who you are, who you are at your core, is a completely different person.”
Bustamante continued: “Being able to switch between these things is one of the best things you can have because you never get lost.”