Doriane Pin: From F1 Academy Champion to Mercedes Test Driver, F1 Seat Now a Goal

Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy champion, believes her recent Formula 1 test with Mercedes could be a pivotal step toward a full-time race seat. The French driver, 22, drove the Mercedes W12 from the 2021 season in April 2026, making her the first F1 Academy champion to test an F1 car and the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car. She now describes racing in F1 as a "goal" rather than a "dream."

Why it matters:

Pin's progression from the all-female F1 Academy to a development driver role at Mercedes and now a physical test represents a clear pathway for female drivers in Formula 1. Her success could accelerate efforts to bring more women into the sport's highest tier, which hasn't had a female driver on the grid since 1976.

The details:

• Pin joined the Mercedes Junior Team in 2024 when she entered F1 Academy, winning the championship in 2025. She was promoted to development driver at Brackley.
• Her test in the W12 took place at an undisclosed track in April 2026, alongside the German carmaker's Nu Silver Arrows program.
• "Driving again in Formula 1," Pin said during a Mercedes show when asked about her next goal. "I hope I will have the opportunity. I think we did a pretty good job today. I hope it will open some doors and some opportunities for the future."
• She added: "But from when I was nine until a few years ago, it was a dream - Formula 1. And now it's a goal. It's a bit different."
• Pin's immediate focus shifts to the European Le Mans Series opener at Le Castellet in three weeks, while keeping an eye on an eventual FP1 appearance.

What's next:

• Pin's next competitive outing is in the ELMS, where she races for an LMP2 team. She hopes consistent performance there and further Mercedes test opportunities will lead to a Friday practice session in F1.
• "I hope this chapter is only the beginning and I will have more chances to drive a Formula 1 car and to continue my progression step-by-step, and hopefully be in FP1 at one point," she said.
• Mercedes has not confirmed any additional test plans for Pin, but her milestone outing has already opened doors: she became the first F1 Academy champion to test a modern F1 car, setting a precedent for future graduates.