23 December 2025motorsportBreaking newsDriver Ratings
Toto Wolff Hails Doriane Pin After She 'Crushed' F1 Academy to 2025 Title
Mercedes junior Doriane Pin dominated the 2025 F1 Academy to clinch the title, earning praise from team principal Toto Wolff. He lauded the French driver for "crushing" the series and fitting perfectly into the Mercedes team culture.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has lauded junior driver Doriane Pin after she dominated the 2025 F1 Academy season to secure the championship. Wolff praised the 21-year-old French driver for "crushing" the competition and highlighted her as a perfect fit for the Mercedes team, both in talent and personality.
Why it matters:
- Pin's victory is a significant win for the Mercedes junior program, showcasing its ability to nurture and develop emerging talent from diverse racing backgrounds.
- Her dominance in the all-female series highlights a successful pathway for women aiming to climb the motorsport ladder toward categories like F1 and WEC.
- For a top team like Mercedes, cultivating a fierce and adaptable driver like Pin strengthens the long-term talent pipeline for both its F1 operation and other top-level racing programs.
The details:
- Pin accumulated 172 points across seven rounds to clinch the 2025 title, a decisive improvement on her runner-up finish in her 2024 rookie season.
- Wolff, speaking in a team debrief, noted Pin's unique background, which included success in karting, touring cars, GTs, and prototypes before she transitioned to single-seaters.
- Wolff's praise: He stated, "She went into Formula 1 Academy and crushed it... She’s a fierce young lady that can drive, and, from a personality, she fits into Mercedes."
- Pin's next move is yet to be determined, but she has expressed a strong desire to continue her career with the Mercedes family.
What's next:
- Pin and Mercedes are set to discuss plans for the upcoming season in the coming weeks, following the conclusion of the F1 Academy campaign in mid-November.
- The young driver is open to both continuing in single-seaters or returning to sportscar racing, where she has prior experience in the highly competitive World Endurance Championship (WEC).
- Her primary goal is to remain with Mercedes and build what she hopes will be a "long and successful career together" with the team.