Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy Champion, recently completed her first Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone. This milestone marks her as the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car.
Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy Champion, has taken a significant step in her racing career by becoming the first woman to drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car. On April 17, the 22-year-old took to the Silverstone National Circuit, piloting the W12, a car that carried Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to the 2021 Constructors' Championship. During her maiden test, Pin completed 76 laps, covering a total of 200 kilometers and impressing the team with her technical acumen and feedback.
Reflecting on her experience, Pin described the day as "unreal," expressing gratitude for the opportunity and the support of her team. "Being a female driver doesn’t define me," she noted, "but it was great to show what we can do." She added that driving the W12 was a vastly different experience from anything she had driven before, yet she was pleased to gain confidence with each lap.
Mercedes' Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, praised Pin's professionalism and noted her seamless adaptation to the F1 car, a challenging leap for any driver. "She looked at home from the very first laps," Shovlin commented, emphasizing the significance of her achievement as the first female driver of a Mercedes F1 car.
Gwen Lagrue, Driver Development Advisor, highlighted the importance of Pin's test as an inspiration for future female drivers. He expressed pride in Pin's role as a trailblazer, suggesting that her journey could pave the way for more women in Formula 1. "Doriane can certainly act as an inspiration," Lagrue remarked, underlining the team's commitment to gender diversity in motorsport.
Pin's successful test with Mercedes not only marks a personal milestone but also sets a precedent in the racing world, illustrating that the path to Formula 1 is open to talented drivers, regardless of gender.