Doriane Pin reflects on 'amazing' maiden F1 test with Mercedes

2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin has completed her first Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone, describing the experience as one of the best days of her life. The French driver, who was subsequently promoted to a development driver role with the team, highlighted the vast performance gap between F1 machinery and anything else she has driven, including LMP2 prototypes.

Why it matters:

Pin's test represents a significant milestone for both the driver and the F1 Academy series. As the first champion from the all-female racing category to test a contemporary F1 car—and the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car—her progression validates the series' goal of creating a pathway to the highest levels of motorsport. Her promotion within Mercedes underscores a tangible career advancement opportunity stemming from her championship success.

The details:

• Pin emphasized that the sheer performance of the F1 car was beyond any prior expectation, stating, "There is nothing compared to Formula 1."
• She drew a direct comparison to her Le Mans experience, noting that while an LMP2 car reaches over 320 kph on the Mulsanne Straight, the combined braking, downforce, and speed of the F1 car was "another world."
• The driver credited extensive preparation with the Mercedes engineering team for her comfort and performance during the test day, allowing her to focus on adaptation and improvement.
• Her description focused on the sensory and physical experience, calling it "one of the best feelings I have in racing" and confirming that the reality of driving an F1 car is impossible to fully comprehend until actually doing it.

What's next:

With her new position as a Mercedes development driver, Pin is set for increased integration with the F1 team. Her role will likely involve further simulator work and potentially more track testing, providing crucial data for the team while accelerating her own learning curve. This test solidifies her status as a top prospect from the F1 Academy platform, with her future trajectory in single-seaters or endurance racing now closely watched.