Doriane Pin recently became the first woman to test a Mercedes F1 car, joining an elite group of women who have driven F1 machinery over the years. From Maria Teresa de Filippis to Susie Wolff, these women have broken barriers in the world of Formula 1.
Doriane Pin etched her name into the Formula 1 history books with a notable test drive at Silverstone, becoming the first woman to pilot a Mercedes F1 car. At 22, she follows in the footsteps of trailblazing women who have taken the wheel in the world of Formula 1, a journey that spans from the early days of the sport to the modern era. To date, only five women have entered a Grand Prix, with two managing to qualify for a race.
As the first woman to compete in an F1 race, Maria Teresa de Filippis began her motorsport journey by proving her brothers wrong, who doubted her driving speed. At 22, she debuted with a second-place finish in a local hill climb, catching the attention of Maserati. In 1958, De Filippis entered the Monaco Grand Prix but missed qualifying by 5.8 seconds. She later made history by starting in Belgium's Grand Prix, finishing 10th, and also entered the Portuguese and Italian Grands Prix before retiring due to engine issues. Following a failed qualifying attempt the next year and the death of a fellow driver, she stepped away from racing, eventually returning to motorsport administration. De Filippis passed away in 2016 at 89.
Lella Lombardi stepped into F1 fifteen years after De Filippis. Her racing passion ignited by driving her family's butcher shop van, she progressed through various racing series. Despite failing to qualify for the 1974 British Grand Prix, she returned for the 1975 South African Grand Prix, retiring due to a fuel issue. Lombardi made history at the Spanish Grand Prix, finishing sixth and becoming the first and only woman to score points in F1. She competed in ten more Grands Prix, securing a seventh-place finish in Germany. After F1, Lombardi found success in endurance racing before founding her own team. She succumbed to breast cancer in 1992 at 50.
Not only did Divina Galica compete in F1, but she also represented Britain in downhill skiing at four Winter Olympics. After a second-place finish in a celebrity auto race, she shifted focus to motorsport, reaching F2 before attempting to qualify for the 1976 British Grand Prix alongside Lombardi. Though she didn't make the cut, Galica continued her pursuit in Argentina and Brazil without success.
Desire Wilson is unique for being the only woman to win a race in F1 machinery, triumphing in the 1980 British Aurora F1 Championship, a non-World Championship series. She narrowly missed qualifying for the 1980 British Grand Prix and later participated in the non-championship South African Grand Prix in 1981. Wilson's career extended to sportscars and the IMSA GT Championship, including attempts at the Indianapolis 500.
The last woman to enter a Grand Prix, Giovanna Amati's motorsport path took a dramatic turn when she was kidnapped at 18. After overcoming this ordeal, she began competing in the Formula Abarth series and climbed the racing ladder. Amati tested with Benetton in 1991 and secured a Brabham seat in 1992 but failed to qualify for three Grands Prix. Post-F1, she continued racing, winning the 1993 Women’s European Championship in the Porsche SuperCup.
Katherine Legge's brief F1 stint saw her test for Minardi at Vallelunga. After a spin on her first run, she completed 27 laps the next day. Legge later became a prominent female racer in the US, scoring points in IndyCar and qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 in 2023 and 2024 with record speeds.
Maria de Villota drove an F1 car for the first time in 2011 and joined Marussia as a test driver. Sadly, during a 2012 test, she suffered a severe accident, losing her right eye. She passed away in 2013 at 34, and her legacy is honored by Carlos Sainz Jr., who carries a star on his helmet in her memory.
Susie Wolff transitioned from DTM to F1 with Williams as a development driver in 2012. In 2014, she became the first woman in over two decades to participate in an official F1 session at the British Grand Prix. Wolff later took on a test driver role and retired in 2015, founding 'Dare to be Different' to encourage female participation in motorsport. She served as a Formula E team principal and, in 2023, became Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY.
Simona de Silvestro, an established IndyCar racer, became an affiliated driver with Sauber in 2014, completing a significant F1 test. Although she returned to IndyCar and other racing circuits, she recently competed in the monobob at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Tatiana Calderon made history in junior single-seaters before joining Sauber as a development driver. After testing F1 machinery in 2018, she continued to break barriers as the first woman in FIA Formula 2 and competed in various global racing series.
Jessica Hawkins joined Aston Martin in 2021 and tested the AMR21 at the Hungaroring in 2023. Her role has since expanded to Head of Racing for F1 ACADEMY. Outside racing, Hawkins has worked as a stunt driver in the James Bond film _No Time To Die_.
Doriane Pin, the latest woman to test an F1 car, first made her mark in GT racing. She moved to single-seaters with Mercedes in the F1 ACADEMY and became champion in 2025. Now a Mercedes Development Driver, Pin tested the 2021-spec W12 at Silverstone, marking a significant milestone. She also competes in the European Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans while working with Peugeot’s Hypercar team.
These women have each carved out unique paths in the male-dominated world of Formula 1, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.