Jonas Leo
Silverstone, United Kingdom – Doriane Pin, a leading figure in the F1 Academy and a development driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, has completed her inaugural Formula 1 test, taking the wheel of the Mercedes W12 at the iconic Silverstone Circuit. This significant milestone, confirmed by Mercedes, marks a pivotal moment in the 22-year-old French driver’s career and underscores the burgeoning opportunities for women in elite motorsport.
The test, which saw Pin pilot the car that secured the 2021 Constructors’ Championship for Mercedes and narrowly missed the Drivers’ title with Lewis Hamilton, was publicly revealed through photographs shared by the team. Mercedes captioned the images, "A milestone moment for Doriane Pin. Getting behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time." This event follows Pin’s earlier revelation during an appearance on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast, where she hinted at the impending opportunity with the Brackley-based outfit.
Pin, visibly thrilled by the experience, shared her sentiments in a video posted on social media from Silverstone. "Today is a very special day," she stated. "I will drive for the first time a Formula 1 car in Silverstone. Very looking forward to it. It’s going to be a big day and something that I have dreamed for so long. So I will enjoy every second and take this chance to build myself and continue to grow and enjoy driving a Formula 1 car. And I will keep you posted of how it is and how special is this day." Her words encapsulate the deep personal and professional significance of this achievement.
The Mercedes W12 E Performance, a formidable machine from the 2021 season, was an ideal vehicle for Pin’s initial foray into Formula 1 machinery. Developed under the stringent technical regulations of its era, the W12 boasted a powerful Mercedes-AMG M12 E Performance V6 turbo-hybrid power unit and sophisticated aerodynamic package. It was campaigned by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and multiple Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, securing nine victories and twenty-eight podium finishes en route to Mercedes’ eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship. Driving such a high-performance, recent-era car provides a realistic and demanding introduction to the raw speed, complex controls, and physical demands of Formula 1. Silverstone, with its fast sweeps, technical sections, and rich history in motorsport, offered a challenging yet rewarding environment for Pin’s debut F1 test.
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Doriane Pin’s journey to this pivotal test is marked by a diverse and competitive racing career. Hailing from Paris, France, Pin began karting at the age of nine, quickly demonstrating a natural aptitude for speed. Her single-seater career commenced in French F4, providing a foundation in open-wheel racing. However, a significant portion of her early success was forged in endurance racing, where she became a prominent figure in the all-female Iron Dames project. With the Iron Dames, Pin competed in series such as the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and the prestigious FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Her achievements include a class victory in ELMS and multiple podium finishes in WEC, showcasing her adaptability and racecraft across different machinery and disciplines. This background not only honed her driving skills but also provided her with invaluable experience in a professional team environment, managing strategy, tyre degradation, and challenging race conditions.
In 2024, Pin joined the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s Junior Programme, a testament to her undeniable talent and potential. Her current focus is the 2024 F1 Academy season, where she drives for Prema Racing with significant backing from Mercedes. Her performance in the F1 Academy has been exceptional; after two rounds of the 2024 championship (Jeddah and Miami), Pin stands second in the overall standings, having secured a memorable victory in Miami Race 1 and multiple podium finishes. Her consistent pace and race management have positioned her as a strong contender for the title, further solidifying her status as one of motorsport’s most promising young talents. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has frequently voiced his support for Pin, highlighting her commitment and skill as key attributes that align with the team’s ambitions.
This test holds profound implications not only for Pin personally but also for the broader landscape of women in motorsport and the F1 Academy initiative. The F1 Academy, established in 2023, aims to develop and prepare female drivers to progress to higher levels of motorsport, ultimately providing a pathway to Formula 1. Pin’s test with Mercedes serves as a powerful validation of the series’ mission, demonstrating that its drivers are being given tangible opportunities to experience and advance towards the pinnacle of racing. It provides a clear, aspirational target for other young women competing in the F1 Academy and grassroots motorsport globally.
Historically, female participation at the top tier of Formula 1 has been exceedingly rare. The last woman to participate in a private Formula 1 test was Jessica Hawkins, who drove the Aston Martin AMR21 (also a 2021 car) at the Hungaroring in 2023. Prior to that, Susie Wolff, currently the Managing Director of the F1 Academy, was the last woman to participate in an F1 race weekend, driving a Williams FW36 during a free practice session at Silverstone in 2014. Before Wolff, the last woman to start an F1 Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi in 1976, who remains the only woman to score championship points in Formula 1 history. These statistics underscore the significant historical barriers and the renewed, concerted efforts now being made to foster female talent within the sport.
Mercedes’ commitment to Doriane Pin and the F1 Academy aligns with the team’s broader "Accelerate 25" diversity and inclusion programme, which seeks to increase diversity across its workforce and within motorsport. By actively supporting drivers like Pin, Mercedes is not only investing in future talent but also reinforcing its dedication to breaking down traditional barriers and fostering a more inclusive environment in a sport historically dominated by men.
The successful completion of this test is a crucial step in Pin’s development. It provides her with invaluable experience in a modern F1 car, allows her to work closely with Mercedes’ engineering team, and offers a benchmark for her continued physical and mental preparation. While a full-time Formula 1 race seat remains a challenging long-term ambition for any driver, tests of this nature are indispensable for gathering data, refining skills, and demonstrating readiness for future opportunities. For Doriane Pin, the Silverstone test is a concrete manifestation of her F1 dream taking shape, propelling her further along a path that many hope will lead to a new era of female representation at the highest echelons of global motorsport. Her immediate focus will undoubtedly remain on her F1 Academy campaign, aiming to convert her strong performances into a championship title, with the ultimate goal of one day racing among the elite of Formula 1.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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