This Filipina F1 Academy Racer Pops Up in Video for Google’s Most Searched for the Past 25 Years
At 18 years old, no less.
(SPOT.ph) F1 Academy racer Bianca Bustamante has been included in Google’s most searched figures and moments in the last 25 years, a feat that is highly impressive for an 18-year-old Filipina in a male dominated sport.
In particular, the moment that landed her a spot in Google’s 25 Years in Search: The Most Searched was of her landmark victory in Valencia, Spain—her first win in the inaugural season of the F1 Academy in 2023.
You’ll find Bustamante beaming with pride at the 3:18 mark:
"Unbelievable moment to be representing Motorsport in the Google 25 Years of Search video," Bustamante said on Facebook. “Being a part of this, surrounded by legends, heroes, and ground breaking moments that has left a mark in history, leaves me speechless. To win on track is one thing, but to have the opportunity to empower the next generation is the true purpose of winning. We’ve achieved a lot this year, and looking forward to the journey ahead.”
Also read: The Titles to Stream If You Need to Feed That F1 Frenzy
Who is Bianca Bustamante?
Bustamante got her biggest break as the first Filipina to race in F1 Academy, with a long history of local and international karting competitions since she was five years old. Did we mention she was born in 2005?
Born and raised in Laguna, she inherited her love for racing from her father, who took her to the track on multiple occasions as a form of bonding between the two. She is still currently enrolled as a student at the University of Santo Tomas Angelicum College’s home study program.
She began her career in the W Series in 2022, where she was recognized as the top rookie. In the same year, she also competed in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with the Italian team Prema Powerteam.
Her goal? To show the world that Asian drivers have a place in the global stage. It seems that she’s already there: F1 driver Esteban Ocon was left in awe by Bustamante, calling her “super talented” after training with her last April.
“I trained with a young girl named Bianca. She was the first to arrive and the last to depart, it was a crazy thing,” Ocon said. “While I have been doing this for years, I was doing the same exercises. She immediately managed to impress me.”
It was in 2023 when Bustamante joined the newly launched F1 Academy series, a female-only racing championship by Formula One. She won twice in its first season.
She also made history by becoming the first female driver to join the McLaren Driver Development Programme, where she will represent McLaren on the F1 Academy in 2024. This opportunity places her in a strong position to progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar, and Formula E.