Mercedes promotes Doriane Pin to 2026 development driver

Mercedes has promoted 22‑year‑old French driver Doriane Pin to a Development Driver role for the 2026 season. The former F1 Academy champion will work on simulator development, attend Grands Prix and support the team’s new Academy driver.

Why it matters:

• Mercedes becomes the first top‑team to appoint a female development driver for 2026, underscoring its diversity push.
• The role gives Pin real‑world F1 data and engineering feedback, fast‑tracking her towards a possible race seat.

The details:

• Pin captured the 2025 F1 Academy title with Prema, tallying four wins, four podiums and sealing the championship in Las Vegas.
• Her new duties cover simulator development, on‑track support at Brackley and Brixworth, and attending multiple Grands Prix to aid the 2026 Academy driver.

What's next:

• Pin will travel with the team throughout 2026, working closely with the new Academy driver and contributing to power‑unit and chassis development.
• Her performance will be a key metric when Mercedes evaluate candidates for future race‑seat openings.
• Mercedes will continue to showcase its diversity agenda, using Pin’s progress as a benchmark for the sport.