BREAKING: Mercedes promote female driver for 2026 F1 S…. Read more

Mercedes Promote Doriane Pin as Development Driver for 2026 Formula 1 Season

 

By Hugo Harvey

 

Mercedes have taken a significant step in their long-term driver development strategy by promoting reigning F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin to the role of development driver ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The move represents a major milestone not only in Pin’s rapidly progressing career but also in Mercedes’ continued commitment to nurturing female talent at the highest levels of single-seater racing.

 

Pin secured the 2025 F1 Academy title in commanding fashion, clinching the championship in Las Vegas with a 15-point margin over Ferrari-backed rival Maya Weug. Across the season, the 22-year-old delivered a consistently strong campaign, claiming four victories and adding a further four podium finishes to underline her status as the standout performer in the all-female series. Her performances marked her as a driver of composure, speed, and adaptability, qualities that Mercedes have clearly identified as essential for their future programmes.

 

Having been part of the Mercedes junior driver set-up since 2024, Pin’s promotion to development driver is viewed as a natural progression rather than a surprise. In her new role, she will work closely with the Formula 1 team at Mercedes’ Brackley headquarters, while also contributing to simulator development and technical feedback at the team’s facilities in Brixworth. Her responsibilities will extend trackside as well, with Pin attending several Grands Prix throughout the 2026 season to integrate further into the operational rhythm of a front-running Formula 1 outfit.

 

In addition to her technical and simulator duties, Pin will also play a support role for Mercedes’ F1 Academy entrant in 2026, although the identity of that driver has yet to be confirmed. This mentoring element reflects Mercedes’ intention to build a sustainable pathway for female drivers, using experienced Academy graduates to guide the next generation through the pressures and demands of professional racing.

 

While Mercedes have not yet confirmed Pin’s full racing programme for 2026, it is widely expected that she will continue her progression through the single-seater ladder alongside her development driver commitments. A move into a recognised feeder series such as GB3 would represent a logical next step, particularly given the recent pathway taken by other F1 Academy graduates. The championship has become an increasingly competitive proving ground for drivers stepping up from Formula 4, offering a blend of high-performance machinery and closely matched fields.

 

There is already a precedent for this route. British driver Abbi Pulling, who won the F1 Academy title in 2024, earned a fully funded seat in the 2025 GB3 Championship. Pulling went on to finish 10th overall in her debut season and is set to return for a second campaign in 2026. Her trajectory has helped reinforce the credibility of F1 Academy as a genuine launchpad for advancement in mixed-gender championships, rather than a standalone endpoint.

 

Speaking after her promotion was confirmed, Pin expressed pride and gratitude at the opportunity Mercedes have given her. She described her two years within the junior programme as transformative, highlighting how the experience has helped her grow both as a driver and as a professional within a Formula 1 environment. Pin also emphasised her excitement at continuing her work with the team at Brackley and Brixworth, underlining her ambition to progress toward future opportunities both on and off the track.

 

Pin was also keen to acknowledge the role played by F1 Academy in shaping her career. She credited the series with providing a crucial platform for female drivers to showcase their talent and develop in a competitive, high-profile setting. As she collected the championship trophy, Pin noted that her own journey is part of a wider movement, one that she believes will see many more women follow similar paths into senior motorsport categories.

 

For Mercedes, the promotion reinforces a broader philosophy of investing in long-term talent development rather than short-term results alone. By integrating Pin into their Formula 1 operations at such an early stage, the team are positioning themselves at the forefront of a changing motorsport landscape, where diversity initiatives are increasingly matched by tangible opportunities.

 

As the 2026 season approaches, Doriane Pin’s next competitive step remains one of the most intriguing storylines to watch. What is already clear, however, is that her elevation to Mercedes development driver represents a landmark moment, signalling both personal achievement and a meaningful shift in how pathways to the top of Formula 1 are being built.

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