DORIANE PIN Steps Up to Mercedes F1 Development Role After Academy Championship

January 22, 2026

• DORIANE PIN earned her promotion to Mercedes F1 Development Driver the right way – by dominating F1 Academy with eight podiums, four wins, and perfect point-scoring across two seasons. The 22-year-old French racer didn’t just cruise to the 2025 title; she built her case methodically, finishing runner-up in 2024 before claiming the crown in Las Vegas.
• Here’s what sets PIN apart from the usual F1 development driver appointments: she’s got serious racing credentials beyond single-seaters. We’re talking LMP2 podiums in WEC, GT3 wins at Spa 24 Hours, and immediate success in F4 machinery. This isn’t someone getting a seat for publicity – she’s proven she can compete at the highest levels across multiple disciplines.
• The real test comes next: will Mercedes actually back PIN with a proper racing program, or is this another case of F1 teams collecting talented women for development roles that lead nowhere? The team hints at a “soon-to-be-announced racing programme” alongside her new F1 duties, but we’ve seen this movie before with other female drivers getting stuck in ambassador limbo.

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