A 18 ans, la jeune femme originaire des Philippines vient de remporter sa première course sur le circuit F1 Academy, un nouveau championnat reservé aux femmes.
Bianca Bustamante est fière de représenter un pays qui n'est pas un habitué du circuit mondial Image : IMAGO/GEPA pictures
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Malgré son jeune âge, Bianca Bustamante est déjà une star aux Philippines.
Après avoir remporté sa première course en mai dernier, la jeune femme a été félicitée en personne par le président Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Son nom a été scandé par les sénateurs, son visage exposé sur le plus grand panneau publicitaire du pays.
Une ferveur dont la native de Manille a du mal à se remettre.
"C'est fou ! Je ne savais pas comment réagir. Je ne m'attendais pas à gagner une course et encore moins à l'effet que cela produirait. C'était un moment fou pour moi", a-t-elle declaré à la DW.
Une passion de longue date
Bianca Bustamante est passionnée par les sports automobiles depuis son plus jeune âge. Son père lui a acheté sa première combinaison à seulement un an. Deux ans plus tard, elle conduit son premier kart pour enfants. A l'âge de six ans, elle annonce à sa famille qu'elle sera pilote automobile professionnelle.
Dans un milieu dominé par les hommes blancs et où la plupart des pilotes viennent de familles fortunées, Bianca Bustamante sait qu'il sera difficile de percer mais elle persévère, soutenue par ses parents qui font d'énormes sacrifices.
Bianca Bustamante court au sein de l'écurie italienne Prema Racing connue pour avoir révélé Charles LeclercImage : Pablo Guillen/Action Plus/picture alliance
"Financièrement c'était dur pour nous. Nous sommes de la classe moyenne mais aux Philippines, donc c'était compliqué",explique-t-elle.
"Mon père est parti à l'étranger pour gagner un peu plus d'argent, pour payer mon éducation mais aussi mes courses. Mon choix a pesé sur la famille et ils ont fait beaucoup de sacrifices, peut-être même trop. Alors maintenant que j'ai réussi, je souhaite leur rendre la pareille."
Le circuit féminin avant de rejoindre les hommes en F1 ?
Aujourd'hui, après des années à impressionner sur le circuit junior, Bianca Bustamante fait partie de la prestigieuse Formule 1 Academy, un circuit destiné aux jeunes femmes pilotes, afilliée à la prestigieuse Formule 1.
L'an passé, en Hongrie, elle a pu faire la rencontre de Lewis Hamilton. , métis et issu d'une famille modeste, ne correspond pas au profil type du pilote de Formule 1. Comme Bianca, il s'est toujours battu pour que tout le monde puisse conduire au plus haut niveau, et en particulier les femmes.
Lewis Hamilton: The career of a Formula One legend
Lewis Hamilton has won his seventh world title, secured with victory in Turkey. The 35-year-old Mercedes driver is known the world over for much more than his driving skills though — here's a little look at his career.
Image : Murad Sezer/REUTERS
Seventh heaven
Lewis Hamilton gets the champagne treatment in Istanbul on a day that he equalled Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles. He achieved it with a typically controlled masterclass in the wet conditions, securing his place among the greatest — if not the greatest — driver the sport has seen.
Image : Murad Sezer/REUTERS
Most race wins of all time
Despite the 2020 season being abbreviated by COVID-19, Lewis Hamilton kept making history. In round 12 of 17, Hamilton overcame a tough start to win in Portimao, a track in Portugal making its Formula One debut. The win took Hamilton's career race wins to 92, one more than Michael Schumacher. His win in Saudi Arabia in 2021 made it 103 race wins in the Briton's career.
Image : Jose Sena Goulao/Reuters
Fashion conscious
Hamilton is very mindful of his image and enjoys hanging out with the rich and famous. He is often seen in the front row of fashion shows. Above he is pictured with supermodel Naomi Campbell (left) at a fashion show in Milan. In 2020, Hamilton launched his own line with American signer Tommy Hilfiger.
Image : picture-alliance/AP Photo/L. Bruno
Trusting soul
Just days after winning the title, Hamilton was in the headlines for something completely different. According to information released as part of the "Paradise Papers" the Briton avoided paying more than $4 million (€3.4 million) in taxes on a private jet by registering it in the Isle of Man. Hamilton said he trusted the advice of his lawyers, who had assured him that the arrangements were legal.
Image : picture-alliance/AP Photo/ANSA/F. Lo Scalzo
Title No. 4
Lewis Hamilton enjoys competing against the odds and going into the 2017 F1 season Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel looked the best bet to pose a credible title challenge. With the German plagued by a series of mechanical failures during the campaign, Hamilton helped himself to his fourth drivers' title in the third-last race of the season.
Image : picture-alliance/dpa/SvenSimon
Provocateur
Lewis Hamilton is known for pushing both his car and his opponents to their limits. At this year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton came out of Turn 15 particularly slowly, and his German rival, Sebastian Vettel rear-ended him. Vettel then pulled up beside him and rammed his car. Hamilton denied having been at fault.
Image : Getty Images/M. Thompson
Difficult teammate
Hamilton is not always easy to deal with even when he happens to be your teammate. The alpha male didn't take it well when then-Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg competed hard against him — and succeeded in winning the 2016 drivers' championship. The German driver's lack of deference was a constant source of friction between him and F1's biggest ego.
Image : Getty Images/M. Thompson
Fan of Senna
The Briton's favorite driver when he was growing up was the late Ayrton Senna. In Montreal in June, Hamilton captured the 68th pole position of his career, equaling the record of Senna, who died in a crash at Imola in 1994. Senna's family recognized the achievement by presenting Hamilton with one of the late Brazilian driver's helmets.
Image : picture-alliance/AP Photo/T. Remiorz
Father and son
Like the parents of many professional athletes, Hamilton's father Anthony (above, left) made many sacrifices to make Lewis' development as a driver possible, at times holding down as many as three jobs at once. Anthony was Lewis' manager when he first arrived on the circuit in 2007, but the two ended their business relationship in 2010. The two now have a close father-son relationship.
Image : picture-alliance/dpa/S. Suki
Another Hamilton at the wheel
His entire family are a priority for Hamilton — including his younger half-brother Nicolas, who despite suffering from cerebral palsy has also managed to become a professional racecar driver. Lewis almost burst with pride when Nicolas moved up the British Touring Car Championship in 2015.
Image : picture-alliance/dpa/R. Vieira
Mentor at McLaren
Ron Dennis (left) was one of the biggest influences on Hamilton early in his career. The longtime team principal of McLaren was impressed when the then-10-year-old Hamilton one day approached him for his autograph and said he intended to drive for McLaren in the future. Three years later, Dennis brought Hamilton into McLaren's youth program.
Image : picture alliance/dpa/Kimimasa Mayama
Wunderkind
At the age of eight, Hamilton (second from right) enjoyed his first win as a driver racing go-karts. He first came into contact with Formula One in 1996, when Mika Hakkinen (right), who would go on to win two F1 titles, presented the trophies at an an event to honor up-and-coming drivers.
Image : picture-alliance/dpa
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"Lewis a toujours soutenu les femmes dans ce milieu. Il a toujours voulu qu'il y ait des initiatives pour les femmes. Il est l'une des raisons pour lesquelles la F1 Academy existe. Il s'est battu. C'est une inspiration",confie-t-elle.
L'objectif de Bianca est clair : rejoindre un jour Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen ou encore Charles Leclerc sur le paddock. La jeune femme a conscience du défi.
Seules deux femmes dans l'histoire du sport ont piloté aux côtés des hommes. La dernière fois, c'était l'Italienne Lella Lombardi, en 1976.