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Bianca Bustamante and her McLaren car for the 2024 F1 Academy

Filipina racer photographed with her McLaren car for the 2024 F1 Academy

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Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/unnamed.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Bianca Bustamante. Handout/F1 Academy Limited"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bianca Bustamante. <em><strong>Handout/F1 Academy Limited</strong></em></span></span></span></div><p>It is almost lights out at the opening round of F1 Academy 2024 and Filipina racer Bianca Bustamante is ready to hit the tracks in McLaren colors. </p><p>Bustamante is looking to improve her seventh-place finish in her rookie year and contend for the championship in the 15-driver grid this season. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/11/23/bianca-bustamante-makes-herstory-for-ph-in-f1-academy">READ: Bianca Bustamante makes &#x27;herstory&#x27; for PH in F1 Academy </a></div><p>The 19-year-old Filipina race winner, who is signed with the McLaren Driver Development programme, is also among the 10 drivers nominated by Formula 1 teams to run their liveries throughout the seven-round calendar this year. </p><p>Backing from F1 teams is another feature of this year to further increase female involvement in motor sport. </p><p>Fresh from her debut at the Formula Winter Series, Bustamante is all geared up for the first battle in her Tatuus F4-T421 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 7 to 9. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/19/23/bianca-bustamante-to-race-with-mclaren-in-f1-academy">READ: Bianca Bustamante to race with McLaren in F1 Academy 2024</a></div><p>&quot;I’m very, very excited, a lot of energy coming into our first F1 Academy 2024 race weekend. It’s crazy to think that we’re this close but I am very excited,&quot; she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/7/bianca-bustamante-to-debut-in-2024-formula-winter-series-2323">READ: Bianca Bustamante to debut in 2024 Formula Winter Series</a></div><p>Here is the 2024 F1 Academy calendar, which will coincide with F1 race weekends: </p><p>Round 1: Mar 7 to 9 -  Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia</p><p>Round 2: May 3 to 5 - Miami International Autodrome, United States</p><p>Round 3: Jun 20 to 22 -  Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain</p><p>Round 4: Aug 23 to 25 - Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands</p><p>Round 5: Sep 20 to 22 - Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore</p><p>Round 6: Nov 29 to Dec 1 - Lusail International Circuit, Qatar</p><p>Round 7: Dec 6 to 8 - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi</p><p>Bustamante captured two historic victories and two other podium placements in the inaugural season of F1 Academy. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/23/23/bianca-bustamante-finishes-7th-in-2023-f1-academy">READ: Bianca Bustamante finishes 7th in first F1 Academy season</a></div><p>More victories for the history-making Filipina is not far from happening, as she equips herself with skills and learnings from her first season, and guidance from McLaren mentors. </p><p>&quot;I’ve learned a lot,&quot; Bustamante said. &quot;There has been a lot of personal growth. I’m really excited to bring that to Jeddah and show what I can do as a driver. For sure I&#x27;ll be a completely different person on and off track from last season.” </p><p>Bustamante also recognizes she has yet to learn a lot to improve as a driver beyond just being the fastest on track. </p><p>“I am very fortunate to have a mental coach, a sports psychologist working with me throughout this whole process given to me by McLaren. And it&#x27;s all about flow, your equilibrium. The best drivers are those that are able to maintain it. You don’t peak, you dont drop no matter the circumstance. I need to learn it myself,” she said. </p><div><strong>-- New F1 Academy format and points system --</strong></div><p>Crucial changes from its original format will be implemented in the new season of the all-female formula racing series. </p><p>From three races per weekend in 2023, F1 Academy has limited the number of races to two per round, as it eliminated the reverse-grid race. </p><p>Grid positions for Race 1 and 2 will follow the fastest and second-fastest lap times the drivers set in the 30-minute qualifying session. </p><p>Up to two free practice sessions of 40 minutes each will precede the qualifying.</p><p>The classified top 10 of each race will be awarded with 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points respectively. </p><p>Classified pole sitters of each race will be given 2 points. </p><p>The driver who sets the fastest lap in each race will get an extra 1 championship point given she is among the classified top 10. </p><p>The upcoming season will also introduce wild card entries. </p><p>F1 Academy will offer the wild card entry to their chosen female driver in the host region. She will be trained by the reigning team champion, which will also provide her car for that round.</p><p>The wild card entry will be the fourth driver of the reigning team champion for that round, in this case the PREMA Racing team. The wild card is also eligible to score championship points. </p><p>Ultimately, top 5 drivers in the classified 2024 drivers’ standings will get FIA Super License Points which will help them in climbing the Road to F1 ladder. </p><p>The 2024 champion will receive 10 points, while the second and third-placers will get 7 and 5 points, respectively. Fourth and fifth-placers will score 3 and 1 points, respectively. with reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/29/23/bianca-bustamante-reaches-podium-in-first-f1-academy-race">READ: Bianca Bustamante gets podium in inaugural all-female race</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://READ: Bianca Bustamante gets first career victory">READ: Bianca Bustamante gets first career victory</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/09/23/bianca-bustamante-seals-second-career-win-in-monza">READ: Bianca Bustamante seals second career win in Monza</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eAVPb6ksmaQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>It’s almost lights out at the opening round of F1 Academy 2024 and Filipina racer Bianca Bustamante is ready to hit the tracks in McLaren colors.</p>

It’s almost lights out at the opening round of F1 Academy 2024 and Filipina racer Bianca Bustamante is ready to hit the tracks in McLaren colors.

Bianca Bustamante gears up for F1 Academy 2024

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Bianca Bustamante gears up for F1 Academy 2024

Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz,

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 06, 2024 09:51 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 07, 2024 12:31 AM PHT

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motor sports

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F1 Academy

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