BIANCA BUSTAMANTE & ALBA LARSEN Show Why Dual F4 Campaigns Are Essential

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July 24, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

F1 Academy’s limited track time compared to regional F4 championships creates a development gap that’s hurting women’s progression up the single-seater ladder. Only two drivers from 2024 moved to higher categories, with BIANCA BUSTAMANTE’s GB3 transition highlighting how dual campaigns provide the competitive edge needed. Current champion ABBI PULLING’s 37 F4-level races in 2024 versus competitors’ solo F1 Academy programs showed a direct correlation between extra seat time and championship success.
ALBA LARSEN and ELLA LLOYD are proving the British F4 Challenge Cup model works, with both drivers showing marked improvement after combining their F1 Academy commitments with regional F4 competition. LARSEN sits third in Challenge Cup standings despite being one of the youngest on the grid, while LLOYD secured her breakthrough weekend at Montreal after recent British F4 experience at Thruxton. Their combined 15 positions gained across Montreal’s first two races demonstrated the sharpness that comes from regular competitive action.
The data doesn’t lie: drivers doing dual campaigns consistently outperform those racing F1 Academy alone. EMMA FELBERMAYR’s stunning last-lap victory at Montreal came after Spanish F4 competition at Portimao, while DORIANE PIN’s championship lead correlates with her FRECA program providing higher-level competition. Even CHLOE CHONG’s career-best fifth place followed her return to British F4 action, proving that staying race-sharp between F1 Academy’s lengthy gaps is crucial for performance.
F1 teams and Academy partners need to step up financially to make dual campaigns accessible, because the current system isn’t developing drivers ready for mixed-gender competition. With 72 women competing in F4-level racing this year but only four F1 Academy drivers committed to full dual programs, we’re missing opportunities to accelerate talent development. The correlation between dual campaign participation and championship standings isn’t coincidence – it’s evidence that F1 Academy as a standalone program isn’t providing sufficient preparation for the next level.