McLaren Confirm Junior Driver Exit Ahead of F1 2025 Season
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McLaren confirms the exit of Bianca Bustamante from their junior driver program ahead of the 2025 F1 season. Bustamante moves to GB3 with Elite Motorsport.
McLaren have officially confirmed that Bianca Bustamante, the first female driver to join the McLaren junior academy, has left the team’s development program ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. This marks the end of Bustamante’s involvement with McLaren after she made history by becoming the first woman to enter the team’s prestigious driver academy.
Bianca Bustamante’s Time with McLaren
Bianca Bustamante’s journey with McLaren began ahead of the 2023 United States Grand Prix, where she made her debut as a member of the team’s driver development program. The 20-year-old Filipino racer spent the 2024 season competing in F1’s all-female junior category, F1 Academy. Over the course of 14 races in the series, Bustamante secured a single podium finish, ultimately finishing seventh in the Drivers’ standings. While her performance in F1 Academy showed promise, McLaren has confirmed that her tenure with the team has now concluded.
In a statement to PlanetF1, a McLaren spokesman said: “Bianca was McLaren’s F1 Academy driver and Driver Development Programme member for 2024. Having completed her two years in the series, we wish her the best of luck for the future and thank her for her contribution to the team.”
Moving On: Bianca Bustamante’s Next Step in Racing
After completing her time in F1 Academy, Bustamante confirmed that she will be stepping up to the GB3 series for the 2025 season. The young driver has joined Elite Motorsport for the upcoming campaign, with the first round of the season set to take place on April 26-27 at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix. Bustamante will be competing alongside Alpine-affiliated driver Abbi Pulling, who won the F1 Academy title in 2024 and secured a fully funded drive with Rodin Motorsport in GB3 for 2025.
The GB3 series, known for its high level of competition, includes several iconic F1 venues on its calendar such as Zandvoort, Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring, and Monza. This move represents a significant step forward in Bustamante’s career as she continues her climb up the motorsport ladder.
Bustamante Reflects on F1 Academy and Embraces New Challenges
Reflecting on her time in F1 Academy, Bustamante expressed her pride in what she had accomplished during her two seasons in the series. “GB3 is a great step to progress up the ladder of single-seater competition,” she said in a statement after her move to GB3 was confirmed. “Having competed in the F1 Academy for two seasons in F4 machinery, I felt GB3 was the perfect step to learn higher downforce and bigger powered cars, with the next step aimed at Formula 3.”
She continued, “With the great calendar mixing European and British circuits, as well as a strong grid of drivers, I expect GB3 to provide me with a great learning platform. I look back fondly on my F1 Academy years and am proud of what was achieved but I’m now excited to return to the traditional racing ladder with both male and female racers on the grid.”
Bustamante also highlighted her decision to join Elite Motorsport, citing the team's track record in GB3 and its strong focus on driver development. “Elite Motorsport has a proven track record in the GB3 series, and my management team and I felt this is due to its strong engineering and focus on driver development. I know I will face a lot of challenges, so to drive in an experienced and supportive infrastructure were important factors when confirming a team for 2025,” she added.
Elite Motorsport's Confidence in Bustamante
Elite Motorsport’s team owner, Eddie Ives, expressed his excitement about welcoming Bustamante to their roster for 2025. “We are extremely pleased to welcome Bianca to Elite Motorsport. It is very clear Bianca has a fantastic attitude combined with total professionalism. I’m confident that with these attributes, along with her experience and success she’s already accomplished in such a short space of time, together with the skills of my excellent GB3 team, will no doubt lead to a fantastic season.”
McLaren Farewells Another Driver
In addition to Bustamante’s departure, McLaren recently bid farewell to another member of their driver roster. Long-serving test and development driver Oliver Turvey has joined Williams in a similar role for the F1 2025 season. These changes come as McLaren continues to reshape its development programs and driver pipeline in the lead-up to the new season.
Looking Ahead: Bustamante’s Future in Motorsport
As Bustamante embarks on her new journey in the GB3 series, her fans and supporters will be eager to see how she fares in one of the most competitive environments in junior motorsport. The Filipino driver’s resilience, professionalism, and commitment to developing her skills on a global stage are expected to serve her well in this next chapter of her racing career. With the potential to move up the ranks and one day compete in Formula 1, Bustamante’s future looks promising as she continues to break barriers in motorsport.
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