In true F1 style, a new announcement has sent fans into shock as McLaren named Bianca Bustamante as their new signing for their driver development programme. The programme fosters young talent with the aim of supporting the drivers to the end goal of Formula One, IndyCar or Formula E.
Why is this shocking? Well, Bianca is the first female driver to ever have been signed into the development programme with McLaren and at only 18 years old she has the talent, time and now backing to give a Formula One career a real shot.
Bustamante has already amassed quite an impressive track record (literally). To list some more recent successes; she joined the W-series in 2022 for her debut and only climbed from there earning top rookie honours. PREMA Racing saw this rising talent and signed Bustamante to race this year in F1 Academy where she has already won two races ahead of the final race in Austin.
This new signing with McLaren allows Bustamante to run their classic papaya livery next season where she will continue to drive in F1 Academy, although she will switch from PREMA Racing to ART Grand Prix.
With all eyes on the driver in papaya next year, can Bustamante be the first woman since Lella Lombardi in 1976 to start an F1 race? I guess you’ll just have to keep an eye on Bustamante to find out.
