Doriane Pin reflects on her historic Mercedes F1 test at Silverstone

2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin has provided a rare, firsthand account of her maiden Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone. This landmark event saw the French driver become the first champion of the all-female series to pilot an F1 car, as well as the first woman to test for the Brackley-based outfit. Following her championship success, Pin has also been promoted to the role of development driver for the team.

Understanding the F1 difference

Pin, who has previously competed in the F1 Academy—where cars are equivalent to Formula 4 machinery—and the Ferrari 488 GTE in the Ferrari Challenge Europe, was quick to highlight the unique demands of F1 machinery.

For Pin, the transition required a period of adaptation to grasp the car's true potential. It's something that you don't expect until you drive it for the first time. Obviously, you need a bit of time to adapt and to understand how it works. But until you drive it, you have no idea how it feels, and how it will be.

Preparation and performance

Despite the significant step up in performance, Pin felt well-prepared for the test, crediting her close collaboration with the Mercedes engineering team. So a lot of surprises today, even though we prepared quite a lot for this test. And I feel I was in the right window to have a good day because I've been working closely with the engineers and the team before, so I think we prepared well for this test. So I was comfortable in the car today.

Her successful outing at Silverstone marks a significant step in her career, following in the footsteps of other rising stars in the sport, such as those discussed in our recent coverage of Abbi Pulling's reflections on the evolving landscape for young female drivers. As she continues her journey as a Mercedes development driver, Pin’s performance serves as a testament to the growing opportunities for female talent within the highest echelons of motorsport.