Mercedes teases Doriane Pin's first Formula 1 test

Mercedes posted a photo of French driver Doriane Pin in a W12 race suit, suggesting the 22‑year‑old will soon get her first on‑track Formula 1 test. The image, taken in front of the championship‑winning W12, follows Pin’s rise from the F1 Academy to a Mercedes development role. The tease raises expectations that the team will move her from the simulator to a real‑car run in the coming weeks.

Why it matters:

• Mercedes uses the test to signal its commitment to promoting women from the F1 Academy.
• A real‑track run gives data simulators can’t, speeding Pin’s readiness for a reserve‑driver or race seat.

The details:

• Academy champion – Pin won the 2023 F1 Academy title and joined Mercedes as a development driver in 2024.
• Simulator experience – She has logged extensive hours in the team’s F1 simulator, a prerequisite for an on‑track test.
• The car – The test would be in the W12 chassis, the same model that won Mercedes’ 2021 drivers’ championship.

What's next:

• Pin told the Beyond the Grid podcast she’s pushing for a private test once her simulator performance meets the team’s benchmarks.
• If the test happens, Mercedes will evaluate her for a future reserve‑driver role or even a race seat, with a timeline likely set for the remainder of the 2024 season.