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Doriane Pin took a major step in her racing career when she completed a full day of running in a Mercedes Formula 1 car at Silverstone on April 17. The 22-year-old, a member of Mercedes’ driver development programme and the reigning F1 Academy champion, piloted the championship-winning W12 for a total of 76 laps around the Silverstone National Circuit, covering roughly 200 km. This session made her the first ever woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car and the first F1 Academy champion to step into modern Formula 1 machinery, a milestone noted across the paddock.
Preparation underpinned the outing: Pin spent long hours in the team’s simulator, working closely with engineers to learn procedures and optimise setup. As a development driver, she balances simulator duties with on-track racing — she currently competes in the European Le Mans Series — and now adds a headline test to her record. Team leaders praised her technical feedback, pace, and composure, and she will use this experience both in her Mercedes role and as a mentor to the 2026 F1 Academy driver Payton Westcott.
Inside the Silverstone test day
The car Pin drove, the 2026 world-championship-winning W12, presented a markedly different challenge to the single-seaters she had driven previously: more downforce, greater power delivery and tighter operating windows. On the day she built confidence incrementally, using the early laps to refine braking points and car balance and later pushing closer to the machine’s limits. Engineers recorded consistent telemetry across runs, while Pin provided detailed notes that helped the team explore different settings. Her approach — methodical, calm and data-driven — turned a high-pressure first F1 experience into a productive development session.
Engineering collaboration and team feedback
Much of the test’s success came from the integration between driver and team. Pin’s time in the simulator was described as rigorous preparation for real-world variables, and she worked with engineers to rehearse pit procedures, radio calls and emergency protocols. Mercedes’ trackside staff highlighted her professionalism and rapid assimilation of complex systems. Andrew Shovlin, the team’s trackside engineering director, emphasised that stepping into an F1 car is a steep jump from other categories but that Pin adapted quickly and appeared comfortable at speed, offering constructive technical input as she logged laps.
Practical learning and technical gains
From a technical standpoint, the day was valuable for both sides. Pin experienced first-hand the sensitivity of F1 controls and the demands of tyre and energy management, while the engineers benefited from fresh perspective and lucid driver feedback. She described the W12 as substantially different: everything felt larger and more powerful, requiring a recalibration of driving rhythm. These lessons — gathered through seat time, telemetry comparison and debriefs — translate into sharper judgement in future driving assignments and enhance her utility as a development resource for the team.
Why the test matters beyond one driver
Beyond personal achievement, Pin’s test signals how development programmes and junior series like F1 Academy are creating tangible routes into top-level machinery. Figures around the sport noted the symbolic and practical impact: this outing demonstrates that targeted investment, simulator work and supportive engineering environments can open doors. Susie Wolff and other leaders praised the milestone as proof that pathways exist for talented female racers, and Mercedes’ commitment to nurturing drivers was framed as a long-term strategy rather than a one-off gesture.
Looking ahead
Pin will continue her duties as a development driver, applying the test experience to simulator programmes, car development tasks and mentorship responsibilities with upcoming F1 Academy talent. The Silverstone day will be referenced as both a learning benchmark and an inspirational moment for younger drivers aiming at higher categories. While a seat on a Formula 1 grid remains a challenging goal, milestones like this one help normalize the progression, proving that with preparation, teamwork and opportunity, the next generation can aim for the sport’s top tier.