Bianca Bustamante scores first F1 Academy podium in Miami GP

There are plenty of reasons to have a good Monday morning if you’re a McLaren fan, especially if you’re from the Philippines.

In Formula One, Lando Norris has finally clinched his first victory at the Miami Grand Prix. But more importantly, it’s also in the same venue where Filipina race car driver Bianca Bustamante has scored her first podium in the F1 Academy.

Bustamante had good pace all throughout the Miami Grand Prix weekend. The McLaren development driver had trouble at the start of the first race, dropping to dead last on the grid but charged back to finish P9. But at Race 2, the 19-year-old Filipina finally converted her solid pace starting in the front row to give McLaren its first podium appearance in the F1 Academy this season.

She moves up to fifth place in the standings with 39 points after two rounds of the seven-round 2024 F1 Academy calendar, while Abbi Pulling continues to lead the championship with 99 points.

Bianca Bustamante will be back in action at the 3rd round of the F1 Academy in Circuit de Catalunya in Spain on June 21 to 23, 2024.