Latest news with #JoanneCiconte
ABC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
F1 Academy driver Joanne Ciconte blazing a trail for Australian girls in motor racing
At just 16 years of age, Joanne Ciconte is living life in the fast lane. The Melbourne-born teenager spends a significant portion of her life on planes, travelling around the world in pursuit of speed. Ciconte is the youngest driver in this year's F1 Academy, mixing it with some of the world's most talented female racers. She joins Aiva Anagnostiadis as the first Australians to contest the all-female series, who will this year compete across three continents over seven race weekends. A junior karting star who won the prestigious Pink Plate in 2023, Ciconte is in just her second year of single-seater motor racing. Now she wrestles a car with a top speed of 240 kilometres per hour, which from a standing start reaches 100kph in 3.6 seconds. "I think that this year has been a bit of a rollercoaster in the F1 Academy series," Ciconte told ABC Sport. "Jumping into the field of many mixed-experience drivers and older girls is something different. I'm always used to driving against boys." The series is in Montreal this weekend for the fourth weekend of the season. The Aussie teen has had a troubled year so far on the track, plagued by incidents often out of her control. But she does have a top 10 finish, which earned her two championship points, becoming the first Australian to achieve that feat in F1 Academy. "I think my attitude this year has [been to] make sure to try and progress and learn as quick as I can," a positive Ciconte said ahead of this weekend. "I believe the results will come from there." The profile of the F1 Academy has grown year-on-year, with each round of this year's series being part of a Formula 1 weekend. A new series on the entertainment streaming platform Netflix has recently been released. The program, F1: The Academy, aims to attract new audiences, similar to what the popular program 'Drive to Survive' did for F1. "What I'm most amazed about is how F1 Academy, and Susie Wolff (F1 Academy managing director), is doing such an amazing job bringing a spotlight on us female drivers," Ciconte said. "I think it's great to see how more and more followers and supporters for the series has grown over the years." As more eyes tune in to watch the women of the F1 Academy battle on track, the spotlight on each driver shines brighter. For Ciconte, the growing spotlight has allowed her to become a role model for young girls in Australia starting in motorsport — something she is embracing as she continues her own journey. "It's definitely part of the experience that I'm building in," she said. "I do get reminders that there are a lot of younger generation girls who want to be in motorsport and aspire to be in the position that I am."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
WELLA PROFESSIONALS NAMED AS OFFICAL PARTNER OF F1 ACADEMY™
NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- F1 ACADEMY™ today announced a global partnership with Wella Company, naming the No.1 salon colour brand in the world1 Wella Professionals as Official Partner of the all-female racing series. The multi-year partnership between Wella Professionals and F1 ACADEMY reflects a shared commitment to inspire a new generation of women to pursue their highest ambitions and express their individuality. Beginning with Round 4 at the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025, Wella Professionals will be proudly represented on the F1 ACADEMY grid by Joanne Ciconte, in the Wella Professionals operated by MP car. Wella's bespoke livery coincides with the launch of the brand's new global campaign Make It You, which encourages people to define beauty on their own terms while championing self-expression through limitless creativity. Ciconte will sport a bespoke livery and race suit inspired by Wella Professionals' iconic mermaid and signature red colour which underpins the brand's 140-year plus history of pioneering hair science. The brand will also celebrate Make It You by emblazoning it on the rear wing of the #25 car. Wella Professionals will activate at key races throughout the season, with bespoke fan engagement activities located within the F1 ACADEMY paddock, interacting with race attendees in a fan facing environment. Through this partnership, Wella Professionals will also offer touch-ups within the F1 ACADEMY Paddock Club suite from the company's portfolio of nails and beauty tech brands OPI & ghd. This announcement follows a year of significant audience growth for F1 ACADEMY with seven races across three continents in 2025, broadcasters in over 170 markets, and the highly anticipated documentary series F1: THE ACADEMY now streaming globally on Netflix. Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY said: "We are very proud to welcome Wella Professionals as an Official Partner in the beauty company's first-ever venture into sports sponsorship. It is fantastic to see Wella Professionals, a brand driven by innovation and championing creative craft for more than 140 years, boldly back women's sports while supporting our mission to fuel the future of women in motorsport." Marlene Lotter, Global Brand Senior Vice President at Wella Company, said: "Wella Professionals has always been committed to empowering hair professionals and beauty lovers everywhere to express their best selves through beauty. We are driven by our mission to enable limitless transformations and encourage self-expression. We share this spirit of empowerment with F1 ACADEMY and look forward to partnering to unlock the potential in their rising talent – on and off the track." About Wella Company Wella Company is an innovative global beauty leader with a portfolio of iconic hair, nails and beauty tech brands for industry professionals and consumers, including Wella Professionals, OPI, ghd, Briogeo, Nioxin, Sebastian Professional, and Clairol. Our compelling vision to enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves is built on our 140+ year history of creating legendary beauty. Our fusion of science, technology, and artistry produces performance-led products, often further distinguished by patented technology. Professional hair and nail industry artists and beauty-loving consumers are at the heart of everything we do. In just four years, we have transformed our business and brand portfolio. We are the #1 Salon Color Brand in the World with Wella Professionals and #1 Salon Nail Brand in the world with OPI2. Working as a connected, diverse global community of 5,000+ employees, we lead for action and drive results with an Owner's Mindset, guided by company Values, our entrepreneurial spirit, and One Team accountability. We have a shared desire to positively impact the communities we serve. Our ambition is to become one of the best beauty companies in the industry, one that will last for generations to come. We dream big because we know our potential is unstoppable. For more information on Wella Company, visit and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. 1Based on Wella Master Brand USD sales on the 2023 Salon Hair Care Study for the hair coloring products category published by Kline2Based on the latest study by Kline Professional Nail Care: Global Market Brief 2022 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Wella Professionals
