Former F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante lands 2026 contract with Palou Motorsport

Former F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante has secured a new contract for 2026, driving in the Eurocup-3 series with Palou Motorsport, founded by four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou and his father, Ramon Palou.

The 20-year-old driver will also be reuniting with PREMA Racing, which she worked with during the 2023 F1 Academy season.

Eurocup-3 was founded in 2023 as an alternative to the FIA-sanctioned Formula Regional European Championship, and follows the same regulations. From 2026, a new spec chassis will be introduced with the Dallara 326, which will be equipped with a Toyota engine producing 275 horsepower.

"Two years later, I find myself back in red, just a step higher and a couple kph faster hehe [sic]," she wrote in a social media post. "So so happy to announce that I’ll be joining Palou Motorsport for the Eurocup-3 season with technical support by PREMA.

"Such an honour to be part of an incredible squad led by Ramon Palou & Alex Palou, and to work again 2 years later with the technical crew of PREMA Racing, a team I raced with in the 2023 F1 Academy season. A combined group of highly experienced and determined people behind this, and I can’t wait to continue learning and growing with their guidance!!

"Another big year in my motorsport career, competing all over Europe in a bigger and faster car.

"It’s such a blessing to be able to compete again, year after year. Everyone knows how incredibly difficult it is to survive in this sport, and even more so to move up. I truly couldn’t be doing this without everyone’s support, my team, my sponsors, especially my long-term supporters @kuyalee & @theleecollectionperth , and of course, all of you that have been with me since the beginning on this beautiful journey. So so grateful."

Bustamante has experience racing in the W Series in 2022, the Formula 4 UAE Championship in 2023, and a move to F1 Academy for 2023 and 2024. She also raced in the Italian F4 Championship in 2023 and 2024 and the GB3 Championship in 2025.