F1 Academy Winner Breaks Ground with Mercedes Test: Could a Female Driver Join F1 Soon?
2025 F1 Academy Champion Doriane Pin made history with her Mercedes test drive at Silverstone. She is the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car, completing over 100 miles of running at the famous British circuit. This is the first time a woman has taken the wheel of an F1 car since Jessica Hawkins’ 2023 Aston Martin Test in Hungary. The test was conducted in the Silver Arrows' 2021 Constructors’ title-winning entry, the W12.
This was the car Lewis Hamilton drove within a lap of an eighth World Drivers’ title before losing out to Max Verstappen in controversial fashion. The knighted Brit has been cited as an inspiration for Pin. The 22-year-old grew up watching Hamilton win titles in a Mercedes, so it was an appealing prospect to become a part of the Mercedes F1 family. The French driver joined Mercedes’ junior program in 2024. At this time, she was able to build a relationship with the sport's most successful driver, mentioning that Hamilton has given her useful advice. After winning the F1 Academy title in her second season in the series, Pin earned a promotion to development driver.
Although Pin is now Mercedes’ development driver, the path to an F1 seat remains challenging. The competition is intense, and drivers need not only pace and performance but also substantial financial support and valuable relationships to advance. Pin, with her F1 Academy title and Mercedes backing, continues to aim for a place in Formula 1. For now, she will return to sports car racing, competing in the 2026 European Le Mans series, a nod to her roots before her breakthrough in single-seaters.
Now in its fourth season as a series, F1 Academy continues its task of providing opportunities for women in single-seater racing and showcasing a new generation of female drivers. Inaugural champion Marta Garcia took a similar route to Pin after her title-winning season with a transition to sports car racing. 2024 Champion Abbi Pulling has been competing in the GB3 Championship, a single-seater series in the UK, since her dominant title run. Success in the F1 Academy has not translated to a seat in the higher levels of the junior tiers of F1. Despite the growing presence of women on the F1 grid, there are still obstacles to securing a drive. When F1 Academy champions are able to transition to the F2 feeder series, the possibility of a woman on the grid could be feasible.
