NEED TO KNOW
\nJoanne Ciconte spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about getting race-day ready as an F1 Academy driverCiconte spoke about teaming up with Wella Professionals and how the hair care brand makes her feel confidently herselfThe race car driver, who’s just wrapped her rookie season with MP Motorsport, also opened up about paving a path of her own in female racing<\/p>\n
Joanne Ciconte<\/a>\u00a0is making waves both on and off the grid.\n<\/p>\n The Australian race car driver, 16, is paving a path of her own as the youngest female to compete in F1 Academy this season, which she recently wrapped at the F1A finale in Las Vegas<\/a> \u2014 and she’s doing so in style.\n<\/p>\n That’s because Ciconte, who just completed her rookie season with MP Motorsport on Nov. 22, has teamed up with Wella Professionals<\/a> to ensure she’s confidently herself when going for the win in the all-female, single-seater racing series.\n<\/p>\n Joanne Ciconte teams up with Wella Professionals.<\/p>\n F1 Academy | Parc Ferme Co.<\/p>\n “For me personally, if I look good, I feel good,” Ciconte tells PEOPLE exclusively, adding that Wella’s “really, really helped” her in her confidence journey.\n<\/p>\n The\u00a02025 F1 Academy\u00a0season is a seven-round campaign that visits three continents, beginning in\u00a0March in Shanghai and ending in November in Las Vegas. The races are held on the same weekends as the\u00a0Formula 1 World Championships.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n In the fourth round of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix in\u00a0Montr\u00e9al, F1 Academy announced its partnership with Wella Professionals. Despite having to wear a helmet during her races, the hair care brand is a total go-to for Ciconte.\n<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\n<\/p>\n Joanne Ciconte.<\/p>\n Alex Pantling – Formula 1\/Formula 1 via Getty<\/p>\n “Having Wella on board, I always put some secret products [on my hair] to avoid helmet hair, which is a huge thing,” she explains. “We’re always on the media somehow, so Wella has made me feel so much more confident by looking good.”\n<\/p>\n Ciconte \u2014\u00a0who found her love for racing through karting at age nine \u2014 pinpointed some of her favorite Wella products that help her look and feel her best, even under a helmet.\n<\/p>\n “One of my favorite products is the Ultimate Smooth Miracle Oil Serum<\/a> or the Ultimate Smooth Mask<\/a>,” she shares. “The mask I leave in for about five to 10 minutes and that prepares my hair for the whole weekend, always looking smooth and shiny… It’s one of my huge tips.”\n<\/p>\n Ciconte even has a few hair hacks to primp herself after a race, even if the weather conditions are extreme or she’s sweating from giving it her all in competition.\n<\/p>\n Joanne Ciconte of F1 Academy.<\/p>\n F1 Academy | Parc Ferme Co.<\/p>\n “I always like to touch my hair up underneath the helmet. It’s a bit hard because obviously with sweating and experiencing different weather conditions,” she explains. “In Singapore, the humidity was outrageous, so everyone’s hair was super, super frizzy.”\n<\/p>\n “But lucky for me, I had so many amazing Wella products!” the athlete shares. “One that really saved me that weekend was the oil serum. Everyone was coming to me to use these products!”\n<\/p>\n