Bianca Bustamante did the unthinkable as she confirmed a seat for herself at McLaren for 2024. Not only becoming the first female driver to join the McLaren Driver’s Development Program but also the second female driver at McLaren.
With a seat at F1 Academy already as she drivers for Prema Racing, she brought a new opportunity for many. And her motivation to work until she got here, Sir Lewis Hamilton congratulating her was what she was the most excited about.
After Hamilton took time to go down and see the women in F1 Academy preparing for Austin, he got a chance to congratulate Bianca. The Prema driver, to no one’s surprise, was very happy to see her role model come to see her. She said,
Lewis showing support to F1 academy driver 🥰#USGP 🇺🇲pic.twitter.com/5KjoidYeOl
— Hamilton Insights (@LH44_insights) October 19, 2023
“I think I went viral with my reaction because of how I was looking at Lewis. It was like ‘Get yourself someone who looks at you the way she looks at Lewis’. But obviously, Lewis is my hero for sure. I think we came with the same difficulties in life, especially in Junior Formula. And I think it’s always so nice to see someone put his actions to his words. Whenever he said that he would support women in sport and that’s what he has always done.”
Bianca Bustamante couldn’t contain her excitement after meeting Lewis Hamilton 😂@racerbia | @LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/38ByLBlfOH
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) October 20, 2023
The moment for sure was a very special one for Bianca. To not just sign with a Formula 1 team after almost a decade but also to meet her hero.
The advice by Lewis Hamilton that stuck with Bianca Bustamante for years
Although Bianca Bustamante got herself an incredible opportunity to get an F1 seat and also a chance to see Lewis Hamilton, this was not the first she saw him. The seven-time champion has always talked about supporting women and bringing more women into the sport.
So whenever he gets a chance to go down and cheer them on, he does so. When Bianca was only in the W-series, she got the opportunity to see Hamilton.
And surprisingly for her, he knew her name and gave her some advice that stuck with her for a long time. The two have seen similar challenges in life.
With both their fathers working multiple jobs to keep them racing, Hamilton told Bianca, “He told me, ‘I know it’s tough. I’ve been there. The journey is very long and you’re only at the very beginning. I’m not going to say it’s going to get easier, but you’ll get stronger and you’ll get used to it.’”
Bianca Bustamante, an 18-year-old racer from the Philippines, has joined the McLaren Driver Development programme, marking her as the first female to do so.
Previously competing in the W Series and the inaugural F1 Academy season with PREMA Racing, she secured two wins and two… pic.twitter.com/eBkUfDgGlS
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 18, 2023
This stuck with Bianca for years as she gradually made her way to the top of F1 Academy. With her Prema Racing team, she has won a race and has now signed to test McLaren’s 2024 livery. As she grows even more in the field, she has realized how strong this has made her. Making history in motorsports, the Filipino has come a long way.