Doriane Pin, a 22-year-old French driver, has quickly made waves in the motorsport world. After a notable stint in endurance racing, she shined in single-seaters, clinching a title in the F1 Academy, backed by the Mercedes team. How has this partnership propelled her career to unexpected heights?
A Rapid Ascent in Single-Seaters
Regarded as one of the most promising female talents in recent years, Doriane Pin has climbed the ranks of motorsport since her return to single-seaters in 2024, landing a reserve driver role this season. Already recognized during her endurance racing period between 2022 and 2023—with a Rookie of the Year trophy in the WEC—she took on a new dimension with her entry into the F1 Academy, where she was crowned champion in 2025.
This resounding success is both sporting and media-related, heavily supported by Mercedes, the team that integrated her into its young driver academy. Doriane joined the German program in 2024 after deciding to pause her endurance career to fully commit to single-seaters. This year, she chose to return to endurance racing by re-entering the ELMS.
Valuable Insights from Champions
Doriane Pin has expressed her gratitude for the valuable advice received from Formula 1 drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Kimi Antonelli. For a young driver, joining an academy linked to an F1 team is often crucial for progression. Beyond opportunities toward Formula 1 and financial support, these programs provide an optimal development framework with cutting-edge tools and high-level guidance—especially when the driver joins the reserve group.
Throughout her two seasons in the F1 Academy, Doriane Pin has benefited from particularly strong mentorship. In addition to the visible support from Mercedes, she has relied on the guidance of the team’s full-time drivers. Whether it was Lewis Hamilton before his departure to Ferrari or George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, all have been very present alongside her, according to the young driver.
“When I was in the F1 Academy, I raced on the same weekends as F1, so I was able to interact with them and receive advice before the races,” she recounts. “This was very helpful, especially on circuits I wasn’t familiar with, like Montreal or Las Vegas.”
A Unique Learning Method
Doriane Pin won the F1 Academy title during her second season in the championship in 2025. “I was able to get valuable advice from George. We often called each other before weekends or met on-site to analyze onboard footage or data so that I had a complete view of what to expect.”
However, Formula 4 and Formula 1 are radically different cars. How can the advice from an F1 driver remain so relevant? “It’s still all about driving: the approach, the use of curbs, and the characteristics of the track… F1 and F4 are very different, but regardless of downforce levels, a corner is still a corner.” She adds, “Of course, they go much faster than we do, but the driving approach remains the same.”
“This type of feedback from an F1 driver is fundamental,” she concludes. “These are the best tips I can get before getting into the car. I know how to approach fast corners and manage elevation changes and braking zones… We accumulate a tremendous amount of information. When we get into the car without any questions in mind.”
