Mercedes moves Doriane Pin to Development Driver role

Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion and a member of the Mercedes Junior Team, has been revealed as a Development Driver of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.

In her capacity as a Development Driver, the 22-year-old will work with the team’s roster of drivers on simulator development on top of “additional activities at the factory and trackside.”

On her new role, Pin commented:

“I’m very proud and grateful to take on the role of Development Driver with the team. My two years as part of the Junior Programme have helped me grow as a driver and this is a fantastic next step in my career. I’m excited to keep working with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth and progressing toward future opportunities, both on and off track. I also want to say a big thank you to everyone at F1 ACADEMY in helping me reach this position. The series provides a brilliant platform for female drivers, and I am honoured to be collecting the championship trophy this evening. As I continue my own journey in motorsport, I know there will be more incredible women following in my wheel tracks and I wish them all the very best of luck for the season ahead.”

Bradley Lord, Team Representative, Mercedes, added:

“We are delighted to announce that Doriane will step up to the role of Development Driver in 2026. In her two years within our Junior Programme, it wasn’t just her dedication, speed, and race-craft that shone through but her technical feedback, engineering nous, and ability to effectively work with senior personnel too. Honing these skills as part of a driver’s toolkit are vital as they are to progress up the motorsport ladder and critical to the development path of an F1 team. This role is therefore a perfect fit; helping Doriane continue to grow and progress on her motorsport journey whilst enabling the team to benefit from her significant experience. Her success in F1 ACADEMY, and the opportunity the series presents, has prepared her well for this next step and we’re excited to see her tackle it with gusto, alongside a soon-to-be-announced racing programme.”