F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin gets historic Mercedes F1 test at Silverstone

F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin completed a landmark Formula 1 test at Silverstone, driving the Mercedes W12 and becoming the first woman to drive a Formula 1 car for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team. The 22-year-old French driver, who won the 2025 F1 Academy title, was guided by a personal message from series managing director Susie Wolff, who emphasized enjoying the historic moment and trusting the team's engineers.

Why it matters:

This test represents a significant milestone for the F1 Academy initiative and for women in motorsport, providing a tangible career progression step to the pinnacle of the sport. Driving a current-generation championship-winning car offers invaluable experience and visibility, strengthening the pathway from the all-female series to the upper echelons of professional racing.

The details:

• Doriane Pin drove the Mercedes W12, the car Lewis Hamilton campaigned during the intense 2021 championship battle.
• She is the first woman to ever drive a Formula 1 car for the Mercedes works team in its modern history.
• In a video message, Susie Wolff advised Pin to manage her expectations, build up speed gradually, and fully absorb the experience of driving at high speed through Silverstone's iconic Maggots and Becketts complex.
• The test serves as a champion's reward, following the precedent set for winners of the F1 Academy series, which aims to develop and showcase female racing talent.

What's next:

While a single test does not guarantee a future F1 seat, it provides Pin with critical top-level mileage and data, enhancing her profile and experience as she continues her racing career. The opportunity underscores F1 Academy's growing role in creating concrete opportunities for its champions and advancing the sport's diversity goals. Pin's performance and feedback will be closely monitored by the Mercedes junior program as she evaluates her next career moves in endurance or single-seater racing.