Doriane Pin sets five-year target for F1 race seat

Mercedes Formula 1 development driver Doriane Pin has set a five-year target to secure a race seat on the F1 grid. In a recent Mercedes "In Convo With Kids" interview, the French driver said she sees herself in Formula 1 within five years, adding that reaching the championship would "open some doors to all the girls that want to be a Formula 1 driver."

Why it matters:

Pin's ambition follows a landmark 12 months. The 22-year-old won the F1 Academy championship in 2025, signed as a development driver with Mercedes, and in April 2026 became the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car when she tested the 2021-spec W12 at Silverstone. Her progress marks a significant step for female representation in a sport where women remain a rarity at the top level.

The details:

• Pin currently juggles multiple roles: development driver for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship and Citroën in Formula E, while racing in the LMP2 Pro-Am class of the European Le Mans Series with Duqueine Team.
• She is vocal about diversity: "We need more diversity in sports and outside of sports. More opportunities for everyone. Especially with my experience in a male-dominated sport like motorsport."
• If Pin reaches F1, she would join a small group of women who have driven modern F1 machinery. Susie Wolff became the first woman to participate in a grand prix weekend in 22 years when she drove for Williams in 2014 free practice. Jessica Hawkins later tested Aston Martin's AMR21 at the Hungaroring in September 2023.

What's next:

Pin continues to build experience across multiple racing disciplines while developing with Mercedes. Her five-year timeline signals a realistic, long-term approach, but her trajectory since winning F1 Academy suggests she is already ahead of schedule.