Bianca Bustamante, an 18-year-old racer from the Philippines, has joined the McLaren Driver Development programme, marking her as the first female to do so.
Previously competing in the W Series and the inaugural F1 Academy season with PREMA Racing, she secured two wins and two podiums.
In 2024, Bustamante will represent McLaren in the F1 Academy grid with ART Grand Prix.
βThis is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I couldβve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines,β said Bustamante.
β2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season.β
#F1
Controversy in Fukuoka: Kaylee McKeown (left) was disqualified for a back-to-breast turn infraction in the semi-final of the Women's 200m Individual Medley.
Alex Walsh (right) did not receive a DQ for her turn in the Final en route to a silver medal.
The specific rules applied are 6.5 & 9.4 of the World Aquatics Competition Regulations.
6.5 (Backstroke): Upon the finish of the race the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back.
9.4 (Medley Swimming): Each section must be finished in accordance with the rule which applies to the stroke concerned (6.5).
Both swimmers appear to be in violation of these rules (to some degree) while performing the "crossover turn." The video replay booth initiated McKeown's infraction, but not Walsh's.
If video review is going to be the norm for reviewing calls then so be it, but if it will also be used to initiate calls, a level of consistency needs to be maintained. The integrity of our sport depends heavily on it.
#Fukuoka23
@JasonAblin At the end of 21-22 I left the classroom thinking it was for good. Iβm back for 23-24 because I missed the little successes and hard fought accomplishments. Taking that feeling of contributing something worthwhile into the world back with me this year.
β οΈ | F1 will use a different Qualifying format in Hungary this weekend. Drivers will be forced to use a different compound each session.
Q1: Hard tyre
Q2: Medium tyre
Q3: Soft tyre
Tyre sets for the weekend will be reduced from 13 to 11.
Hard: 3 sets
Medium: 4 sets
Soft: 4 sets
#F1 #HungarianGP
I love Daniel Ricciardo but something about how he got this AlphaTauri seat is super fishy. Plus, Daniel has talked, Christian has talked, Helmut has talked. Nyck has not. Yuki has not. Gag order? NDA? Whatβs happening at the RB mothership because this looks bad. Really bad.
Daniel Ricciardo replaces Nyck de Vries, who replaced Pierre Gasly, who replaced Alex Albon, who replaced Brendon Hartley, who replaced Carlos Sainz, who replaced Daniil Kvyat, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo.
I think that's the AlphaTauri/Toro Rosso circle of life. #F1