F1 Academy phenom Doriane Pin has officially traded her junior machinery for a seat with one of the most iconic teams in motorsport history. Just months after dominating the grid to become the 2025 F1 Academy Champion, the 22-year-old Frenchwoman took a monumental leap in her career, completing her maiden Formula 1 test at Silverstone behind the wheel of a Mercedes.
Affectionately nicknamed “Pocket Rocket,” Pin has blasted her way into the record books. She is now officially the first Frenchwoman to drive modern F1 machinery and, more significantly, the first female driver ever to pilot a Mercedes Formula 1 car.
Mercedes didn't ease her in with a simple show car. For her historic debut, they entrusted her with the championship-winning W12 E Performance—the exact V6 hybrid machine Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas used to secure the team’s 2021 Constructors' title. It was a powerful statement of belief in her potential.
Taking to the 2.639-kilometer Silverstone National Circuit layout, Pin showcased remarkable composure, successfully logging 76 laps and accumulating 200 kilometers of invaluable seat time in one of the world's most demanding racing machines.
“Driving an F1 car for the first time today was unreal,” Pin shared. “The W12 is obviously really different from the other cars I’ve been able to drive. Everything is different, bigger, and more powerful. I am glad I was able to build confidence lap after lap and show what I was capable of.”
That confidence was no accident. To prepare for the massive jump in horsepower and downforce, Pin spent countless hours in the Mercedes simulator, working directly with the engineering team to master the W12’s complex systems. Her meticulous preparation clearly paid dividends on the track.
Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin was full of praise: “Her preparation and professionalism has impressed the whole team and she should be really proud of what she has achieved. She looked at home from the very first laps and was able to enjoy driving the car on the limit.”
This test was more than just a reward; it was a clear signal of intent from Mercedes’ driver development program. By placing Pin in a championship-winning car, they have spotlighted her as a serious talent for the future, marking a thrilling new chapter for the "Pocket Rocket."