Explore how this fierce Filipina racer has been preparing her mindset ahead of the first F1 Academy race of the year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Rising motorsport star Bianca Bustamante is gearing up for another season in the F1 Academy. After an impressive debut in 2023 taking home two victories and four podium finishes with PREMA Racing, she is ready to return for the 2024 season with her sights set even higher.
The 19-year-old Filipina driver, known for her exceptional talent and unwavering determination, has been steadily reaching the top after dominating regional karting championships and an impressive W Series run. Now, with a coveted seat on the McLaren Driver Development programme, Bustamante is excited to yet again take on the best young female racers in the world on the high-octane stage of the F1 Academy, ready to give it her all and chase her dream of making an impact in motorsport as a woman.
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Building a stronger mindset
Bustamante isn’t just about raw talent and audacious goals. Beyond her impressive driving skills lies a renewed mindset fueled by experience. With the guidance of her sports psychologist at McLaren, she has matured past linking her happiness solely to winning. “I didn’t like how sometimes I would react when I wasn’t performing well. I would easily lose confidence in myself and all of a sudden I could go from a race-winning driver to barely qualifying within the top 10. When I wasn’t getting good results, I felt like I wasn’t worth it,” Bustamante says at an exclusive pre-season gathering.
She now understands that there are highs and lows in sports, and what keeps her mentally and emotionally in check is knowing that setbacks are inevitable. This allows her to bounce back and celebrate even the small victories to foster a more resilient mindset.