F1 Academy: Bianca Bustamante ranks 4th in drivers standings after round 1

Bianca Bustamante in action. F1 Academy Limited

Two collision-filled races in the opening round of 2024 F1 Academy in Jeddah got Bianca Bustamante pulling all the tricks to place 4th in the running for the championship. 

More than once did Bustamante ran wide and cut corners for both overtaking and defense in the first race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, to which she got a warning for track limit.  

Over the team radio, she was heard communicating to her team of a puncture due to a contact early in the race. 

This may have resulted in her losing pace, but still she managed to finish on P6. However, Charlotte Tilbury-sponsored Lola Lovinfosse got a 10-second penalty post-race, which promoted Bustamante to P5. 

Mercedes-sponsored Doriane Pin won this race. 

More track chaos ensued in the second and final race. 

Thanks to Bustamante’s quick reflexes, she managed to evade the stalled car of Lovinfosse, who spun and caused Williams-supported driver Lia Block to crash and sustain a damaged car nose. 

She also had a contact with Visa Cash App RB-sponsored driver Amna Al Qubaisi in sector 1, but managed to continue. 

She crossed the chequered flag on P7, but moved to P8 after in-race penalties were applied. 

However, Pin, who was initially declared the race winner, did not seem to notice the chequered flag at once and continued running her laps. She received additional 20 seconds to her final time for crossing the flag twice. 

This gave Bustamante a two-place promotion that landed her on P6 in the final classification. 

P2 finisher and Alpine-supported driver Abbi Pulling got the race victory. 

A P5 and P6 finishes gave Bustamante a sum of 18 points. 

Round 2 will take place on May 3 to 5 in Miami before the Miami Grand Prix of Formula 1.