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Bianca Bustamante - 19 year old female driver racing in F1 Academy for ART Grand Prix under the McLaren Driver Development Programme. She is from Manila in Philippines
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Lando Norris - 24 year old F1 driver racing for McLaren. He started racing at 7 years old in karts. He grew up in Bristol, UK. He is already 7 years in F1.
Before you start reading I just want to say that this story is pure fiction and made up scenarios. Please don't take anything seriously. ____________________________________
It all started back in 2022 when I got the chance to drive at the W series test in Arizona. At the time I was 17 and still living with my parents in the Philippines.
My dream since childhood Karting was to drive a real F1 car. I was really surprised and happy when I got that seat. After Arizona the next month was a pre-season test in Barcelona with 9 qualifiers from the previous W series season. Then I was competing in the 2022 W series season and ended in 15th place with two points.
Since my 10th birthday, my idol was teen driver Lando Norris. At the time racing in the Toyota racing series for the M2 Competition which he won with significant dominance. A year later he received the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. In 2017 he joined the McLaren Young Driver Programmer and won the FIA Formula 3 European Championship then was promoted to Formula 2. He made his F1 debut with McLaren and teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. in 2018.
I wake up and look at the clock next to my family photo on the night table.
"Oh **** I overslept."
The clock says it's 8:15. I jumped out of bed, almost dropping down my cup. Take a sandwich out of the fridge, brush my teeth in a rush, and put on my racing uniform.
Then I got out of my apartment, locked the door, and ran straight to the paddock where we had to have a morning presentation by Lewis Hamilton the 7x F1 world champion, and Totto Wolf the principal of Mercedes Amg F1 team and husband of Suzie Wolf the founder of F1 Academy.
On my way to the paddock, I almost bump into Ollie, my good friend and a driver from F2 under the Ferrari academy program.
"Sorry Ollie, I'm in a hurry." he replies: "No worries Bianca."
I'm almost at the place and I hear Suzie:
"Here Bianca, we are waiting for you."
I get to them and breathe out from my run towards here. I also spot that there are some F1 drivers with Suzie. She starts talking to all F1 Academy drivers and also me.
"Girls, today we have special training. I'm sure you all saw that we have guests in our paddock today. From today on you will be training with F1 drivers every morning and afternoon as additional experience. And they can also practice with you."
