Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion and Mercedes development driver, became the first woman ever to drive a Silver Arrow; she made her F1 debut in a Silver Arrow at Silverstone. She drove the Mercedes W12 (2021 season car) as part of testing previous cars under the TPC programme.
This test marks the first time driving a Formula 1 car at Silverstone, a run across the weekend, her first official F1 machinery experience with Mercedes, which was described as a "milestone moment”.
She is only the second woman in six years to test an F1 car; the last woman to do so in a modern F1 car before her was Jessica Hawkins in an Aston Martin in 2023. The last female to participate in an official F1 session was Susie Wolff for Williams back in 2014 at Silverstone. 12 years ago, and now the head of the F1 academy.
Pin joined Mercedes in 2024 as a development driver. Since joining, she has made some major steps, including simulator sessions, technical feedback work with engineers, development programmes linked to the F1 Academy, and progression towards real-world F1 testing opportunities. Her performance in F1 Academy and simulator work helped justify the F1 test opportunity.
Mercedes described the session as part of a structured evaluation of her potential for future roles, including possible FP1 (Practice 1) participation.
This was not just a massive moment for her but for all girls who aspire to be in F1; knowing she is breaking boundaries and expectations will only push more girls into the sport and, hopefully, open more doors in karting, where F1 drivers start.
In 2024, she was runner-up in the championship in her rookie season with three race wins. Then, a year later in 2025, she won the F1 Academy, securing the title in Las Vegas with four race wins and eight podium finishes. She scored points in every race of the season. She currently drives for Prema Racing as a Mercedes representative.
She has experience as an endurance racer competing in multiple top-level categories before moving to single-seaters.
Before the testing pin was posted to social media: “Today is a very special day. I will drive a Formula 1 car for the first time at Silverstone. Something that I’ve dreamed of for so long.”
She aimed to “enjoy every second” and learn from engineers. She promised to share the experience afterwards. She also emphasised building experience and continuing her development. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were at the track to help her as much as possible. Ahead of the race, F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, who paved the way for many young girls after being the closest in many years to driving an F1 car, while she did not make it to the track, gave some hope. The last time a woman raced in an F1 race was 1950.
Wolff gave her invaluable advice about the experience, becoming real once the engine starts, how she should build up gradually and trust the engineers. Most importantly,y enjoy the moments rather than immediately chasing lap time, and the team would be supporting her throughout. She lastly expressed her pride and encouragement for the young French women. Pins test is one of the most recent high-profile modern F1 tests for which female driver Abbi Pulling was involved in an Alpine demo run. Jamie Chadwick and Lia Block williams historic F1 Machinery at Goodwood. Tatiana Calderon in the Sauber F1 test in 2018 and Susie Wolff with Williams.
While she might be the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car, she is not the first woman to have an impact in the German team; Mercedes has a long history of women's connections. Bertha Benz, an early automotive pioneer and investor in Carl Benz, was the creator of Mercedes-Benz. She completed a historic long-distance drive in 1888.
Ewy Rosqvist became a Mercedes rally driver, with major victories in Argentina, a Monte Carlo class win, and success at the Nurburgring.
Finally, Ellen Lohr is the only female Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (German Touring Car Masters) champion, having won at Hockenheim in 1992 in a Mercedes 190E Evo 2.
Mercedes also referenced its belief that it could produce the next female Formula 1 driver. F1 Academy has been massively helped by increased exposure and brand partnerships across F1 and the Academy with Netflix and the likes of LEGO.
Karting remains the key development gap for female drivers at the grassroots level. The more girls get involved in karting and develop, the higher the chance they will reach F1. We will see women back in F1. It is only a matter of time. What needs to be done is to expand female participation at the grassroots level and improve structured development pathways.
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