Doriane Pin set for private Mercedes F1 test after simulator success
Mercedes preparing private F1 test for Doriane Pin
2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin has revealed that Mercedes is planning to reward her progress with a private Formula 1 test.
The French driver, backed by the Brackley-based squad throughout her title-winning campaign in the all-female series, has signed with Mercedes as a development driver for 2026. After impressing in the simulator, discussions progressed toward putting her in a real F1 car.
"Yeah, he said it," Pin confirmed when asked about team principal Toto Wolffâs comments, speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
"Obviously, we had to see how the sim was going and then it was the potential next step, but the sim went well, very well actually, and that's why they had the idea to put me in a private test and to give me the chance to drive the real car."
The opportunity represents a significant step in her development pathway with Mercedes, underlining the teamâs confidence in her simulator performances.
"My target Is to go to Formula 1"
Pin made it clear that she is pushing for the opportunity and sees it as a crucial milestone in her long-term ambitions.
"So definitely I'm really pushing for it as well because I really want my chance to drive the car and to show that there's potential because my target is to go to Formula 1. So I will make sure that I'm fully ready before jumping in the car in real life."
When asked whether she had already completed a seat fitting, she responded with a smile: "No, not yet."
Balancing Mercedes duties and endurance racing
Alongside her development driver role, Pin has returned to endurance racing. Before switching to single-seaters, she built a successful résumé in the discipline, competing in the LMP2 class with the Iron Dames project in 2022. In 2026, she steps up to the LMP2 Pro-Am category.
Should the planned Mercedes test go ahead, Pin would follow in the footsteps of recent female drivers to sample Formula 1 machinery. The last woman to take part in an F1 race weekend session was F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, who drove in free practice for Williams in 2014. The most recent private F1 test by a woman was completed by Jessica Hawkins with Aston Martin in 2023.
For Pin, however, the focus remains firmly on preparation â and on proving she belongs at the highest level once the opportunity arrives.
Ciara Gillan
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producerâs brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastriâs rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!