Bustamante expresses confidence for 2024 F1 Academy campaign

Bianca Bustamante is confident to take on the first race of the 2024 F1 Academy season, scheduled this weekend.

According to the Filipino race car driver, her hopes are backed by a strong performance during the pre-season testing stint with McLaren and ART Grand Prix.

“We were fast as Jeddah. We topped a few sessions and overall, we were so, so strong, and the fact that we’re coming into the race week knowing that we were strong in the pre-season test and the fact that I was able to work with my team and McLaren and just feel so at home without even trying so hard,” Bustamante said during a virtual roundtable conference.

“We were able to get good results and I think that’s what matters,” she noted.

The pre-season testing took place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit — the same track where the first race of the season will be held. The street circuit is considered the second-longest and one of the fastest courses on the 2024 calendar, pushing Bustamante to demonstrate exceptional precision and bravery.

Nevertheless, the “Dark Horse” appears to be ready to take on the challenge — even excited by the idea of duking it out with other female drivers in the street track of Jeddah.

“It’s my favorite circuit. I mean, I love fast circuits. I love the fact that you’re just so close to the wall. You’re so close to the limit. You’re just sending the car and you’re just correcting so little and those minor corrections can either send you to a very good lap or into the wall. And I think the fact that you’re playing with those limits, I just love that feeling,” she commented.

“And I think that was the main reason why I was so quick at Monza. And the fact that I feel that type of energy, that type of emotion when I drive a Jeddah, I think it’s very positive,” Bustamante explained.

In addition to the seat time she had during the pre-season testing, Bustamante also spent some time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and completed three out of four rounds of the Formula Winter Series in Spain to provide her with the preparation needed for a strong start to her upcoming campaign.

Bustamante also praised her team’s efforts. McLaren does more than just physical and mental support while ART Grand Prix ensures that she gets all the tools she needs to compete at the front of the pack.

“We’ve got a really, really good car,” Bustamante shared talking about her papaya-colored Tatuus F4-T421.

“ART has been working amazingly just to make sure that the car is suited to my driving style and they’re very passionate people and they want it as bad as I do. So that just gives me confidence and I’ll be racing with F1 this weekend,” she stated.

“I’ll have my family with me, you know, McLaren, the Papaya family, and they’re so excited for me to get there, really. And I can’t wait. I mean, to be racing in front of my team, in front of my family, to be racing in front of also Zach, our boss. There’s a lot of pressure, but at the same time when we do well, I know that they’re gonna be really proud and I mean, honestly, for now, I just can’t wait. I can’t wait to get in the car,” added Bustamante.

Bustamante will go toe-to-toe with other drivers — like Lia Block (daughter of the late Ken Block who will fight under Williams Racing banner — in the maiden race of the season.

Photos from Bianca Bustamante’s  Instagram page

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