Doriane Pin becomes first woman to test a Mercedes F1 car at Silverstone

French driver Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy champion, completed a 76‑lap, ~200 km test in Mercedes’ 2021 W12 at Silverstone. She was joined in the garage by George Russell and development driver Kimi Antonelli. Pin called the day “unreal,” noting that while her gender doesn’t define her, the experience was a powerful statement for women in motorsport.

Why it matters:

The test makes Pin the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car, underscoring the team’s push to broaden its talent pool and inspire the next generation of female racers. Mercedes sees the milestone as a step toward greater gender diversity in the sport.

The details:

• 76 laps (≈200 km) on Silverstone’s 5.891 km circuit.
• Drove the 2021 championship‑winning W12, a far larger and more powerful car than her usual machinery.
• Supported in the garage by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
• Team officials praised her preparation; engineering director Andrew Shovlin said she “looked at home” from lap one.
• Mercedes driver‑development adviser Gwen Lagrue called the milestone an inspiration for aspiring female drivers.

What's next:

Pin will stay on Mercedes’ development roster while racing in other series, with further test opportunities planned. The team sees her progression as a step toward a future female race‑seat and a more inclusive F1 grid.