Doriane Pin Makes F1 Debut in Historic Mercedes Test

Reigning F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin will drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car for the first time today, becoming the first female driver to test for the German manufacturer. The 22-year-old French development driver will take the wheel of the team's 2021-spec W12 at Silverstone in a landmark moment for her career and Mercedes' driver development program.

Why it matters:

This test represents a significant step in Pin's rapid ascent through the motorsport ranks and underscores Mercedes' commitment to evaluating and developing young talent, particularly from its F1 Academy involvement. For Pin, it's a crucial opportunity to gain invaluable real-world F1 mileage, bridging the gap between simulator work and actual track performance, which could shape her future path in single-seater racing.

The details:

• The test was confirmed after Mercedes teased an announcement on social media late Friday, with Pin herself sharing the news.
• She will drive the W12, the car Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas campaigned in the intense 2021 championship battle.
• The session is classified as a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) test, which allows teams to run older machinery for development purposes outside of official F1 testing windows.
• Pin's journey to this point accelerated after Mercedes backed her during her two F1 Academy seasons, where she won the 2023 championship. This support led to her official role as a Mercedes junior development driver in 2024.
• In her development role, she has been actively involved in simulator work at the team's Brackley headquarters, preparing for this on-track opportunity.

What's next:

A successful test could pave the way for more running in F1 machinery for Pin, potentially in newer cars, as she continues her 2024 campaign in the F1 Academy series and other racing commitments. For Mercedes, it's a chance to assess a promising talent from its own system under real conditions, gathering data and feedback that could influence both her development plan and the team's future evaluation processes for young drivers.