Bianca Bustamante Grew Up Racing Against Boys In The Philippines From The Age Of Six. Now She’s 19—And Out To Make History In Formula 1

I think that one of the best things about racing is that everyone is a mentor, but if I could think specifically on one—not that I’ve met him in person—but I would definitely say [legendary F1 champion for Ferrari and McLaren from the 1970s and 80s] Niki Lauda. He’s my hero, the epitome of a champion. In my head, he taught me discipline, and how to value hard work, and how to always be able to extract the most out of any situation. He could have the fastest or the slowest car and still, somehow, be able to perform well. That’s what it takes to be a champion, and the fact that I’m racing for McLaren now—it’s like, “Wait—what?!”

Did you drive your parents nuts? Were you that kid on vacation with your parents and they wanted you to come to the pool, or the beach, and you wanted to stay inside and watch old Formula 1 races?

No. All the Christmas gifts, all the vacations—I didn’t have any of that. I exchanged all of that for racing.

Wow.

I missed out on quite a lot growing up. I didn’t get to experience a normal high school life—I never went to prom, and I’m really sorry about that, actually. I always watched all the rom-coms, imagining what prom would be like. As a young kid, I was very disciplined—I never asked for anything apart from new tires, or an extra day of driving.

Does your racing instinct or your competitive instinct affect your life away from the track—do you have to win, have to be faster, better, stronger, all that, in everything?

That’s the thing: I wish I wasn’t as competitive as I am, because I just ruin the fun every time. Everyone is out having fun at the arcade—I’m trying to beat all the high scores. I’ll compete over anything: chess, checkers, axe-throwing, darts. I just always want to go forward, to do better, learn more, do it again. It’s that hunger—you either have it in you or you don’t.