Mercedes makes history with first female F1 test at Silverstone

Mercedes marked a historic milestone as development driver Doriane Pin became the first woman to drive a Formula 1 car for the team, completing a test at Silverstone in the 2021-spec W12. The 2025 F1 Academy champion, who is part of the Mercedes junior program, was given the opportunity as part of her development duties, with team members including George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in attendance to witness the moment.

Why it matters:

This test represents a significant symbolic step in Mercedes' and Formula 1's ongoing efforts to promote female participation at the highest level of the sport. It provides tangible, top-level experience to a promising female driver and reinforces the team's public commitment to being a pathway for women in racing, a goal that has seen little progress since the last female driver started a Grand Prix over three decades ago.

The details:

• Doriane Pin drove the Mercedes W12, the car used by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the 2021 season, during a TPC (Testing of Previous Car) session.
• She is the first female driver to get behind the wheel of a Mercedes F1 car in the team's modern history, and the first woman to drive any F1 car since Jessica Hawkins tested for Aston Martin in 2023.
• Team Support: Managing Director of F1 Academy and former Williams test driver Susie Wolff, wife of Team Principal Toto Wolff, sent Pin a personal video message with advice and encouragement before the run.
• Historical Context: Mercedes driver development advisor Gwen Lagrue has previously stated he believes Mercedes will be the team to bring the next female driver onto the F1 grid. The team's history with women in motorsport includes early test driver Bertha Benz and DTM race winner Ellen Lohr.
• Academy Pipeline: Alongside Pin, Mercedes' junior academy also includes 15-year-old Spanish karting champion Luna Fluxá, indicating a structured, long-term approach to developing female talent from the grassroots level.

What's next:

While a test does not equate to an imminent race seat, it is a crucial step in Pin's development and demonstrates a concrete investment in her progression. The focus for Mercedes and the wider F1 community remains on sustaining this pathway through junior categories like F1 Academy and karting to increase the pool of female talent, with the ultimate goal of ending the long absence of women on the Grand Prix grid. Pin's performance and continued development will be closely watched as a benchmark for this initiative's progress.