McLaren has unveiled the livery that Bianca Bustamante will run in the 2024 F1 Academy series.
All 10 of the teams from the Formula 1 paddock will support nominated drivers in the 2024 F1 Academy season and McLaren is the first to unveil its design for the all-female single-seater series.
Bustamante, 19, was inducted into McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in October and the racer hailing from the Philippines is the first female to be brought into the Woking outfit’s academy setup.
After winning two races in her debut F1 Academy campaign last year, Bustamante will compete in a papaya-clad ART Grand Prix entry in 2024, with a design inspired by Bruce McLaren’s 1967 championship-winning M6A Can-Am, the first machine from the iconic racing team to carry the squad’s signature colours.
The #16 car will also feature branding from McLaren partner Cisco, as will Bustamante’s Alpinestars race suit and Castore team kit.
“The 2024 F1 Academy season is fast approaching and it’s surreal that I’ll be driving in the McLaren livery, I absolutely love it! The design is incredibly iconic, and I’m so looking forward to racing in papaya,” Bustamante said.
“I managed to take a couple of weeks off over the winter, but lately it has been full push both on and off the track to prepare for the first test in Barcelona.
“Many thanks to McLaren and ART Grand Prix for their continuous support and commitment to helping me become a stronger driver.”
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing added; “It’s great to see the F1 Academy livery revealed ahead of the upcoming season, the papaya design looks awesome and I’m looking forward to seeing it on track for the first time.
“The F1 Academy series is a fantastic initiative and creates a pathway for young female drivers to reach the highest levels in motorsport.
“We’re pleased to have Bianca involved in the McLaren Driver Development programme and we’re looking forward to seeing her compete in F1 Academy this season.”
The F1 Academy season begins with Round 01 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 07-09.
