From karting to racing in the 2025 GB3 Championship, Boardroom caught up with Bustamante to discuss her persistence and passion to push her motorsport career forward while building a strong brand.
This feature is part of a series spotlighting women in motorsports. Check out our other features on Brehanna Daniels and Tasia Johnson.
Bianca Bustamante’s journey into motorsport was never meant to be conventional. As a young girl growing up in the Philippines, where fast cars and racing circuits were far from household staples, she was an anomaly—an outlier determined to carve her own path in a sport that didn’t make it easy for her to belong. Now, she’s part of the trailblazing drivers of F1 Academy, who are building a new track for women in Formula One.
Boardroom caught up with Bustamante to discuss her persistence and passion to push her motorsport career forward while building a strong brand.
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The Race to Change Motorsport
Bustamante began her racing journey at an exceptionally young age, driving go-karts at just three years old before she started competing at the age of six. She has since competed in a wide range of series, including the W Series, F1 Academy, Formula 4 UAE Championship, Italian F4 Championship, Euro 4 Championship, British F4 Championship, and the Formula Winter Series. Now, with her sights set on further advancement, she’s signed with Elite Motorsport and is poised to make her GB3 Championship debut next month.
“Coming from the Philippines, not really a country known for motorsport or fast cars… the first barrier was even getting into the sport,” Bustamante told Boardroom. “Unlike the UK or US, where it’s more available, motorsport wasn’t highly endorsed or encouraged.”
For many young drivers, the path to professional racing starts early, with access to karting leagues and training programs. Bustamante didn’t have that luxury. Her entry into the sport came from her father’s love of racing. That passion quickly turned into obsession. Watching Formula One as a child, she knew she wanted to be the one behind the wheel.
“I consider myself lucky that my dad was a passionate racing driver himself. Because of his dream, it allowed me to realize mine,” she said. “At a young age, my father introduced me to motorsport—watching Formula One. That was when I met my first love, which is motorsport.”
The Cost of Chasing a Dream
Bustamante had to fight for every opportunity. Racing is one of the most expensive sports in the world, and the pressure to succeed wasn’t just personal—it was financial. She had to give everything she had, every single time.
“I didn’t really have the luxury of choice because of how exclusive and expensive the sport is,” she explained. “Every time I was on track, it was my parents’ blood, sweat, and hard work funding my career. I felt immense pressure to make it as a professional.”
With the sport demanding thousands, even millions, for sponsorship, training, and racing costs, there was no room for error in Bustamante’s pursuit. Every practice session, every race, and every new opportunity had to be earned with more than just skill; it had to be earned with a relentless work ethic.
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done with 100%, even 110% effort,” Bustamante said, encapsulating the determination that has powered her journey.
Her persistence paid off. In 2023, she became the first driver signed to McLaren’s Driver Development Program through the F1 Academy, a move that changed the trajectory of her career.
“When I was signed by McLaren, I realized I had everything I needed to really make it,” she shared. “Having that backing was a game changer—it was the fuel I needed to go to the next level in my career.”
For Bustamante, McLaren wasn’t just a team—it was the key to unlocking new doors. The F1 Academy, designed to provide young female drivers with the training, resources, and visibility they need to excel in motorsport, offered Bustamante the platform she had been working toward for years. With McLaren’s support, she gained access to world-class facilities, mentorship from top-tier professionals, and the guidance necessary to thrive in such an elite space. While McLaren’s partnership with Bustamante ended earlier this year since she’s moving on to GB3, Bustamante expressed nothing but gratitude for the brand.
“Getting into McLaren’s program made me realize just how far I had come,” she said. “It wasn’t just about being a good driver—it was about having the right resources, the right people supporting you, and the right mindset to succeed.”
The F1 Academy has allowed her to hone her skills on state-of-the-art simulators, engage in intense training sessions, and participate in some of the most competitive racing circuits available to young drivers. The advent of the program has elevated the women’s sport across the world.
“It’s incredible to see the evolution of the sport,” she said. “The F1 Academy is helping level the playing field, and now I’m able to race on the same tracks as some of the best drivers in the world—something that wasn’t even a possibility just a few years ago.”
The Role of Technology
Beyond talent and opportunity, Bustamante credits technological advancements for helping young drivers like herself prepare at a higher level. She said the tech in motorsports is limitless. When she first started racing, access to track time was limited by budget constraints. Now, with racing simulators, she can train anywhere in the world from the same seat and location.
“I use a racing simulator now—something that wasn’t available to me a decade ago,” Bustamante said. “I can drive on any track, in any condition, without the costs of hiring a car, track, fuel, and tires.”
At the highest level, those margins make all the difference.
“Formula One is an engineering masterpiece. The margins between drivers are incredible—separated by tenths of a second, all calculated through technology,” she said.
Additionally, Bustamante noted how technology has played critical role in pushing the limits of what drivers can achieve. In F1 specifically, Bustamante pointed out that the precision of the engineering behind each car and the reliance on data analysis have combined to make racing more strategic than ever before. What impresses Bustamante most is how the sport has evolved to incorporate both driver skill and tech in such an integrated way. It’s no longer just about the raw talent behind the wheel but about how effectively a driver can use the technology available to gain a competitive edge.
A New Era for Women in Racing
Bustamante is part of a growing movement to bring more women into motorsport—both on and off the track. Ten years ago, women in racing were barely part of the conversation. Now, thanks to initiatives like the F1 Academy, they’re being given real opportunities.
“The sport you see now wasn’t even remotely close to what it was 10 years ago,” she said. “There were no female drivers, no programs encouraging women. Now, every day, there’s a push for women in motorsport—not just as drivers, but as engineers, in marketing, media, sponsorships, mechanics.”
It’s no longer a question of if a woman will make it to Formula One—it’s a matter of when. Bustamante said it won’t be long until we see a woman racing. And when that breakthrough moment happens, she hopes to be one of the drivers leading the charge.
“The biggest limiting factor was inequality in sport. More male drivers meant more male F1 drivers. But now, initiatives like F1 Academy are changing that,” she said. “The next generation of drivers won’t be male-dominated. It will have the next Jamie Chadwick, Susie Wolff—or even myself.”
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Redefining Success, On and Off the Track
Bustamante knows that making it in motorsport isn’t just about raw talent—it’s also about branding, networking, and visibility. She’s used social media to her advantage, growing her following from 1,000 to over 3 million in just a few years. She uses her platform to build her brand, giving her followers an inside look at all aspects of her life, including training and sharing her journey on the track.
Bustamante said the biggest lesson she’s learned in her career is that fear and doubt will always exist but shouldn’t hold you back.
“Fear and pleasure are our two main motivators. I’ve missed out on things because I let fear drive me. If I hadn’t taken the risk four years ago to pursue single-seater racing, I wouldn’t be here today,” Bustamante said. “You miss all the shots you don’t take.”
As Bustamante looks ahead to the 2025 GB3 Championship, she’s not only focused on personal growth but also excited for the challenge of racing against the boys once again. Having already proven herself in various racing leagues, she’s aiming to continue developing her skills and making her mark in one of the most competitive championships.
“I’m not going for the wins or pole positions this year, but I am going for absolute growth,” she said. “I’ve done everything I can over winter to prepare, and I hope to go through the season without any regrets, knowing that I gave my best.”
Bustamante is still at the beginning of her career, but she’s already making history. As she speeds toward her next goal, she’s proving that the future of motorsport won’t just be defined by men—fearless women like her will shape it.
“Often, we’re told to fit a certain box—one made for us by parents, society, social media. But life is beautiful because you only live it once. Make your own box.” she said. “If something scares you, it means you’re doing something right.”
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