Earlier this year, in a groundbreaking move set to reshape the future of motorsport, Formula 1 and F1 Academy revealed their collaborative vision for the 2024 season. All 10 F1 teams will now feature one driver showcasing their livery in the all-female racer series.
In 2024, 10 of these drivers will be nominated by F1 teams, each adorning the team’s livery on their respective race cars. Details about the selected drivers and liveries were expected to be revealed soon, and the first driver-team pairing has been announced today.
Bianca Bustamante, McLaren’s Trailblazing Addition
Bianca Bustamante, hailing from the Philippines, will represent McLaren in the 2024 F1 Academy season with their new Official Primary Partner, Cisco. The 18-year-old is set to become a focal point of this groundbreaking development. Her enrollment in the McLaren Driver Development program is a historic moment, marking her as the first female driver to join the team’s prestigious development initiative. Furthermore, she will proudly display McLaren’s livery on her F1 Academy race car throughout the 2024 season.
Photo credit: McLaren Racing
Her journey in motorsport began at the tender age of five, and she has since racked up an impressive list of accomplishments, including multiple karting championships across Asia. Her single-seater career has seen her compete in the W Series, Formula 4 UAE Championship, Italian Formula 4, USF Juniors, and most recently, the 2023 F1 Academy Season. This year, she has secured two wins and two podium finishes heading into the final round of the 2023 series at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Under the guidance of Emanuele Pirro, Director of McLaren Racing Driver Development, she will now embark on her journey within the McLaren Driver Development program. This program aims to foster and nurture racing talent, ultimately propelling them toward careers in Formula 1, IndyCar, and Formula E.
Bianca Bustamante herself conveyed her excitement and gratitude. She described this momentous juncture in her career, saying, “This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines.” Her deep emotional connection to the McLaren team was evident as she added, “I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless.”
Photo credit: McLaren Racing
Cisco’s Pivotal Role
Additionally, this groundbreaking partnership will see Cisco, a leader in enterprise networking, video collaboration, and security technology, emerge as an Official Primary Partner of the McLaren F1 Academy program. Cisco has been an Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team since 2021, and this extended collaboration underscores Cisco’s commitment to supporting women in STEM career pathways. As part of this multi-year partnership, Cisco’s branding will be prominently featured on Bianca Bustamante’s race car, overalls, and team kit. She is poised to represent McLaren as she races with ART Grand Prix in the 2024 F1 Academy season.
Carrie Palin, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Cisco, voiced their enthusiasm for the partnership. She explained, “We are always looking to align our brand with programs that foster greater diversity and align with Cisco’s purpose to power an inclusive future for all.” Palin emphasized the natural synergy between Cisco and the McLaren F1 Academy program. She stated, “The McLaren F1 Academy program was a natural opportunity for us to expand on our partnership with McLaren Racing and support Bianca as she strives to pave new opportunities for women in motorsports.”
Palin concluded by expressing their wholehearted support, “We will be cheering her on as she takes to the track, and we have no doubt that she will be an inspiration to many around the world.”
Papaya Family Welcomes Bustamante
Emanuele Pirro, Director, McLaren Racing Driver Development, expressed his satisfaction with the addition of the Filipino. He stated, “I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our Driver Development program. She’s a promising young talent who has a brilliant work ethic and is closely aligned with our team’s values.” Pirro also shared his anticipation for the collaboration, saying, “I look forward to working with Bianca on her development as a racing driver. We’re also excited for Bianca to represent the team in the F1 Academy series, and we look forward to seeing her race in papaya in 2024.”
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1, emphasized the team’s unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion. Stella mentioned, “The team is delighted for Bianca to join us and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy. It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team.” He elaborated, “So we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport.”
