Doriane Pin Becomes First Woman to Drive a Mercedes F1 Car

Doriane Pin completed her maiden Formula 1 test in a Mercedes W12 at Silverstone, logging 76 laps and about 200 km. She is reported as the first female driver to pilot a Mercedes F1 car and will continue as a Mercedes development driver.

Doriane Pin completed her first Formula 1 test at Silverstone after winning the 2025 F1 Academy title. The 22-year-old French driver, nicknamed "Pocket Rocket," was placed in Mercedes' W12 E Performance and completed substantial on-track running. The team and its engineers supported her with simulator preparation and trackside guidance. Mercedes announced she will remain part of the team as a development driver. Known details: - Pin drove the Mercedes W12 E Performance, the V6 hybrid car used by Mercedes in 2021, on the Silverstone National Circuit layout (2.639 km). - She completed 76 laps during the session, totaling about 200 kilometres of seat time. - Pin spent extended time in the Mercedes simulator to prepare and worked with the engineering team on the car's controls and braking points. - Mercedes' Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin praised her preparation and professionalism in the test. - Driver Development Advisor Gwen Lagrue noted that Pin is the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car and described the test as a special moment for young drivers. - Pin will continue with Mercedes as a development driver, including simulator work, trackside duties at grands prix, and mentoring Payton Westcott. Summary: Her Silverstone test is reported as a historic first for a woman driving a Mercedes F1 car and for a modern Frenchwoman in F1 machinery, and it reinforced her role within the team. Undetermined at this time whether this will lead to competitive race seats; she will remain a development driver with simulator responsibilities, trackside duties and mentoring tasks.