MANILA, August 27 ------ McLaren development driver Bianca Bustamante of the Philippines had a difficult race weekend in the Netherlands during round 4 of the F1 Academy 2024. The damp weather during the qualifying session saw the Filipina driver hit the wall after having just pitted for a new set of wet tyres.
Bianca Bustamante hits the wall during the qualifying session for round 4 of F1 Academy in Zandvoort. Due to the impact, her front wing got detached and the car had to be airlifted out of the Zandvoort circuit. The incident raised concerns if the car would be repaired in time for the first race. Bianca Bustamante's car getting lifted out of the Zandvoort circuit during the qualifying session.
Initially, it did not. F1 Academy announced that Bustamante was to miss the first race due to damage in the car's chassis. However, with the rainy weather continuing on in the first race, the management announced it was postponed to Sunday morning before the second race. On the following day, the races were met with better weather conditions. The sun was up, and Bustamante was able to get on the grid for the rescheduled race 1, starting at P14.
Due to the rescheduling, the race had to be reduced to 13 from 17 laps. This meant less opportunity for Bustamante to advance in the ranks. She finished at P14. In the second race, despite starting further behind the grid at P15, Bustamante got better results, having moved up four places to finish P11. This marked her first race weekend this season where she did not earn any points.
From 5th place in the drivers' standings, Bustamante dropped to 7th place with 57 points after this round. Bustamante's P2 finish in round 2 in Miami remains to be her only podium finish so far this year. In the inaugural F1 Academy season in 2023, she clinched two race victories and two other podium finishes. The fifth round of the all-female single-sitter race championship will be held in Singapore from September 20 to 22.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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