“Dealing with that criticism has been very tough; it’s so easy to let that get to you. I’ve had to learn how to not let negative comments become a distraction and to use criticism to fuel my motivation. I’ve always known that if I fail, my parents’ sacrifices would have been for nothing. I know that I’m in this position because of my parents and everything they’ve done for me, so I shouldn’t let anyone else’s opinions affect what I’m doing.”

How does it feel to be the first woman to be accepted onto McLaren’s Driver Development Programme?

“It’s so weird! Ten years ago, you couldn’t imagine someone saying that the first female development driver for McLaren would be Filipino and barely five-foot three – this petite girl from the middle of nowhere. In fact, when McLaren reached out to my manager and made their future intentions clear, I couldn’t believe it. I grew up watching footage of Niki Lauda winning the championship with McLaren, so to be a part of the team is crazy.

“I’ve been with McLaren for a few months now and it feels a bit more real, but I know I won’t be at McLaren forever, so I’m trying to make the most of this time. I love the fact that I get to inspire people as much as other drivers have inspired me; I want to pass the torch on to the next generation, and I hope my signing will open doors for a lot of young girls and boys who aspire to sign for McLaren one day, regardless of where they come from.

“It’s useful to think about that immediate impact because it means that I’m not focused on winning. I do want to make it to F1, but I’ve also got this potential legacy.”

“I’m willing to risk everything”: F1 Academy’s Bianca Bustamante on her ambition to be the most successful female driver ever