Doriane Pin looks back on the most important milestone in her motorsport career so far: her first test day in a Mercedes Formula 1 car. Last Saturday, the Frenchwoman became the first woman to take a seat in a modern Formula 1 car of the Silver Arrows. “Although the fact that I am a female driver does not define who I am, it was great to show what we can do,” Pin said afterwards.
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Doriane Pin made history last Saturday: the Frenchwoman became the first woman to drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car. As part of Mercedes’ Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program, the 2025 F1 Academy champion drove 76 laps at Silverstone. Current Mercedes driver George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli also stopped by the garage.
“To drive a Formula 1 car for the first time today felt unreal,” the French driver reflects on the moment afterwards via the official Mercedes website. “I am extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity, and to have been able to do it together with this great team. It was a unique opportunity and I certainly made sure I enjoyed the day immensely, in addition to doing my best possible.”
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The fact that Pin also immediately made history makes the milestone extra special. “Although the fact that I am a female driver does not define who I am, it was great to show what we can do,” the F1 Academy champion continues. “It was a very emotional day and I am also grateful that I was able to share this experience with my family.”
Compliments from Mercedes
Behind the scenes, Pin also received compliments for her first appearance in a Mercedes F1 car. “It was great to see Doriane complete a test day with the W12 today,” said Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes Technical Director. “This marks another important step in what is proving to be a very exciting and promising career. Her preparation and professionalism have impressed the entire team and she can truly be proud of what she has achieved. No matter what racing class you come from, it’s always a huge step to get into an F1 car, but she seemed to feel right at home from the very first laps and was able to enjoy driving the car to the limit.”
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