From F1 Academy glory to Mercedes development: Doriane Pin's blueprint for Formula 1

Doriane Pin has crowned an extraordinary 2025 season by claiming the F1 Academy championship title, with her sights firmly fixed on the ultimate prize: a seat on the Formula 1 grid. The 22-year-old French driver's triumph marks a defining moment in her motorsport journey, culminating months of relentless competition against Ferrari-backed rival Maya Weug. With four victories and four additional podium finishes across the season, Pin demonstrated the consistency and mental fortitude required to excel at the pinnacle of motorsport's junior categories.

"Champion is a beautiful word to really fit our season," Pin reflected on her achievement. "We can be really proud of all the work we have done since last year. We never gave up, we worked so hard on winning races, winning the title." Her championship-clinching performance at Las Vegas, where she finished fifth to secure the crown by 15 points over Weug, showcased not merely her speed but her strategic acumen and composure under pressure—qualities that Mercedes executives have recognized as fundamental to her ascent through the motorsport hierarchy.

The path to Mercedes: building on experience

Pin's 2025 success represents redemption after falling short in her debut F1 Academy campaign. Last season, she stormed onto the scene with victory on her series debut in Jeddah, but found herself ultimately outgunned by dominant champion Abbi Pulling. Rather than allowing this setback to derail her ambitions, Pin strategically invested in broadening her racing portfolio. Crucially, she secured a dual racing program encompassing both the all-female F1 Academy series and endurance competition with the Iron Dames team—a calculated move designed to accelerate her development across multiple racing disciplines.

"I've learned so many things with the Iron Dames team," Pin explained, discussing her endurance racing experience. "In longer races you are working with a full team with strategy people, with tyre people and engineers and so on. And it's very intense as well, but very good for learning." This exposure to diverse racing environments, from high-intensity single-seater competition to the strategic complexities of prototype racing, has equipped her with multifaceted skills that Mercedes recognizes as essential preparation for the F1 grid.

The Mercedes development driver role

Following her championship coronation, Pin has been promoted to Development Driver status with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for 2026, marking a significant step forward in her progression through the team's driver academy pipeline. This elevated position will see her attending multiple Grands Prix throughout the season, supporting Mercedes' Brackley headquarters with simulator work and contributing to the development of future academy drivers.

"We are delighted to announce that Doriane will step up to the role of Development Driver in 2026," Mercedes representative Bradley Lord stated. "In her two years within our F1 ACADEMY team, she combined dedication, speed, and race-craft with strong technical feedback and engineering knowledge—culminating in her championship success last season."

Importantly, Pin's development driver responsibilities will complement a soon-to-be-announced racing program for 2026, ensuring she maintains competitive racing experience while deepening her integration within the Mercedes F1 ecosystem. This dual-track approach has proven effective in preparing junior drivers for eventual F1 opportunities, allowing them to absorb the organizational culture and technical sophistication of a top-tier team while continuing to race at the highest junior categories.

Formula 1: the wnwavering dream

Throughout her career progression, Pin has maintained singular focus on her ultimate objective: racing in Formula 1. "I think we were waiting this time to switch to single-seater because my dream is Formula 1," she confirmed. "So that's why we did it at the right time when Mercedes came with me."

This clarity of vision has shaped every strategic decision Pin has made, from her choice to join Mercedes' junior program to her deliberate diversification into endurance racing. Now, as she steps into her Development Driver role, she enters a phase where she can observe, learn, and prepare for the moment when a seat becomes available.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has already endorsed Pin's potential, highlighting her performance as one where she effectively "crushed" the competition in her championship-winning season. The francophone driver's combination of speed, technical intelligence, and the ability to deliver under pressure positions her as a serious prospect within Mercedes' long-term driver development strategy.

The Pocket Rocket's trajectory

Affectionately nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket," Pin has carved a distinctive path through motorsport's hierarchy. Her journey through karting, touring cars, GT competition, and latterly single-seaters represents an unconventional route compared to many contemporary F1 prospects. Yet this diverse background may prove advantageous, endowing her with adaptability and racecraft refined across varied competitive environments.

As Pin embarks on her 2026 campaign as a Mercedes Development Driver, the motorsport world watches closely. Her championship credentials are no longer in question. Now comes the critical phase: demonstrating that she possesses the requisite capability to translate F1 Academy dominance into a sustainable career within Formula 1's elite ranks. For Doriane Pin, the dream remains tantalizingly within reach.