22-year-old Frenchwoman Doriane Pin is the first woman to complete a Formula 1 test with Mercedes: How the test at Silverstone went and how many laps Pin drove
22-year-old Doriane Pin has entered the Formula 1 history books: the young driver is not only the first woman to complete a test for Mercedes, but also the youngest driver and the first French woman to drive a modern Formula 1 racing car.
Pin was allowed to complete a Formula 1 test at Silverstone last Friday (April 17, 2026) and drive the Mercedes W12 E Performance from the 2021 season. The development driver completed a total of 76 laps of the 2.639-kilometre Silverstone National Circuit over the course of the day.
“Driving a Formula 1 car for the first time today was simply incredible,” said the Frenchwoman, who was crowned F1 Academy champion last year. “I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and to be part of this great team.
”It was a unique chance and I made sure to enjoy my day to the fullest while giving my best. Even though my role as a racing driver doesn’t fully define me, it was great to show what we are capable of.”
A “very emotional day” for Doriane Pin
“It was a very emotional day and I am also grateful that I was able to share this experience with my family.” Pin had already hinted at her Formula 1 test a few days ago on the Beyond The Grid podcast, which is why the test did not come as a complete surprise.
“Everything is different, bigger and more powerful,” reports the Frenchwoman, who clearly didn’t allow herself to make a mistake during the day. “I’m glad that I was able to build up more confidence lap by lap and show what I can do.”
Doriane Pin “impressed the whole team”
“It was great that Doriane was able to complete a test day with the W12 today,” says Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin. “This is another important milestone in her very exciting and promising career.”
“She is also the first driver ever to have driven a Formula 1 race car from Mercedes,” recalls the engineer. “Her preparation and professionalism impressed the entire team, and she can be really proud of what she has achieved.”
“No matter which racing series you come from, it’s always a huge step to get into a Formula 1 racing car. But she looked at home from the very first laps and was able to enjoy driving the car at the limit.”
Pin as “inspiration” for young female racing drivers
Gwen Lagrue, who is responsible for the young driver program at Mercedes, is already thinking one step ahead. “I am sure that we will see a woman driving in Formula 1 in the coming years,” says the Frenchman. “As a team, we would be incredibly proud if we could achieve this goal with someone from our team.”
“Doriane can certainly serve as an inspiration for all those who want to follow in her footsteps as she continues her career and her role as a development driver in our team.” The last woman to complete a Formula 1 test was Jessica Hawkins, who was allowed to test for Aston Martin in Hungary in 2023.
