F1 Academy: Bianca Bustamante gets first career victory

Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Photo courtesy: Bianca Bustamante/Twitter' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/05/07/bianca.jpg' ><figcaption>Photo courtesy: Bianca Bustamante/Twitter</figcaption></figure></div>(UPDATED) The Philippine anthem played as Bianca Bustamante made history as the first Filipina driver to ever win a Formula 1 Academy race. The 18-year-old rising star snagged her first career victory in the second race of F1 Academy’s Round 2 held in Valencia, Spain on Saturday. <blockquote class='twitter-tweet'>The anthem was played, we raised the flag. We Won!! 100 emotions in 5min. Thank you everyone for believing in me. MY FIRST CAREER VICTORY!!!!!! Come on!!!!!!<a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/LabanPilipinas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#LabanPilipinas</a><a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1Academy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#F1Academy</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#F1</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/Prema?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#Prema</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/BB16?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#BB16</a> <a href='https://t.co/d1nKZh7gV3'>pic.twitter.com/d1nKZh7gV3</a>— Bianca Bustamante (@racerbia) <a href='https://twitter.com/racerbia/status/1654892733398491136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>May 6, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src='https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' type='text/javascript'></script>Qualifying in pole position after several modifications in the starting line up, Bustamante led from start to finish in the 11-lap Circuit Ricardo Tormo to secure the third win for the PREMA Racing team this season. She gained 10 points from this race, while her teammates Marta García and Chloe Chong, who finished P5 and P4, had 4 and 3 points, respectively. Earlier, Bustamante finished P5 in Race 1 ahead of both of her teammates, but not without errors as she lost places after sliding onto the gravel early in the session. In Race 3 on Sunday, Bustamante maneuvered to P7 from her P13 qualification. She scored her final 6 points in this round. García emerged as winner to claim her third race win this season. Bustamante is now sixth in the overall drivers standings with 44 points. García leads with 96. The F1 Academy’s inaugural season has seven rounds in the calendar. The five teams will next battle in Round 3 in Barcelona from May 19 to 21.

The 18-year-old rising star snagged her first career victory in the second race of F1 Academy’s Round 2 held in Valencia, Spain on Saturday. <blockquote class='twitter-tweet'>The anthem was played, we raised the flag. We Won!! 100 emotions in 5min. Thank you everyone for believing in me. MY FIRST CAREER VICTORY!!!!!! Come on!!!!!!<a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/LabanPilipinas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#LabanPilipinas</a><a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1Academy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#F1Academy</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#F1</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/Prema?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#Prema</a> <a href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/BB16?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>#BB16</a> <a href='https://t.co/d1nKZh7gV3'>pic.twitter.com/d1nKZh7gV3</a>— Bianca Bustamante (@racerbia) <a href='https://twitter.com/racerbia/status/1654892733398491136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>May 6, 2023</a></blockquote>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Photo courtesy: Bianca Bustamante/Twitter' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/05/07/bianca.jpg' ><figcaption>Photo courtesy: Bianca Bustamante/Twitter</figcaption></figure></div>(UPDATED) The Philippine anthem played as Bianca Bustamante made history as the first Filipina driver to ever win a Formula 1 Academy race.

The Philippine anthem played as Bianca Bustamante made history as the first Filipina driver to ever win a Formula 1 Academy race. 