Daily News 19

Tag: F1 Academy

  • 2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin sets timeline for Formula 1 race seat

    2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin sets timeline for Formula 1 race seat

    Key Highlights

    • Mercedes Formula 1 development driver Doriane Pin has set a five-year target to secure a race seat on the F1 grid.
    • The 2025 F1 Academy champion became the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car at Silverstone in April 2026, testing the 2021 W12 challenger.
    • Pin advocates for greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport, emphasizing the need for more opportunities for women in Formula 1 and beyond.

    Pin Sets Ambitious Five-Year Formula 1 Timeline

    Mercedes Formula 1 development driver Doriane Pin has publicly declared her intention to earn a race seat on the Formula 1 grid within the next five years. The French driver, who currently serves as a development driver for the Brackley-based team, outlined her long-term career aspirations during a recent Mercedes In Convo With Kids interview. When asked where she envisions herself in half a decade, Pin responded directly: “In Formula 1. “That would be cool. It will open some doors to all the girls that want to be a Formula 1 driver.”

    Historic Silverstone Test and Multi-Series Programme

    Pin’s trajectory accelerated significantly after she clinched the F1 Academy championship in 2025, a triumph that secured her a development driver contract with Mercedes. In April 2026, the 22-year-old made history by becoming the first woman to drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car at Silverstone, piloting the W12 — the team’s challenger from the 2021 season. Beyond her Formula 1 commitments, Pin maintains a demanding multi-discipline schedule. She serves as a development driver for Peugeot in the FIA World Endurance Championship and for Citroën in Formula E, while also competing in the Le Mans Prototype 2 Pro-Am class of the European Le Mans Series for the Duqueine Team.

    Championing Diversity in a Male-Dominated Sport

    Pin’s ambition extends beyond personal achievement; she is a vocal advocate for systemic change within the motorsport industry. Asked what she would change about the world, she centered her answer on representation: “Diversity, in general,” she said about one thing she would change about the world. “So in sports and outside of sports, I think we need more diversity. “So more opportunities for everyone. Especially with my experience in a male-dominated sport like motorsport. So it would be good if we had a lot of women also in Formula 1.” Her perspective is informed by direct experience navigating the sport’s hierarchical structure, positioning her as a prominent voice for the next generation of female talent.

    Why This Matters

    Pin’s stated timeline and current trajectory place her among the most credible female prospects for a Formula 1 race seat in recent history. Her path mirrors and advances the progress made by predecessors such as Susie Wolff, who drove in official free practice sessions for Williams in 2014 — becoming the first woman to participate in a Grand Prix weekend in 22 years — and Jessica Hawkins, who completed a 26-lap test in the Aston Martin AMR21 at the Hungaroring in September 2023. With the F1 Academy now firmly established as a feeder series under Formula 1’s management, Pin’s development across single-seaters, endurance racing, and electric competition provides a uniquely broad technical foundation. Should she achieve her five-year goal, it would represent a watershed moment for gender diversity at the pinnacle of motorsport.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is Doriane Pin?

    Doriane Pin is a 22-year-old French racing driver who won the 2025 F1 Academy championship. She is currently a Formula 1 development driver for Mercedes, a development driver for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship and Citroën in Formula E, and competes in the LMP2 Pro-Am class of the European Le Mans Series for Duqueine Team.

    What historic milestone did Pin achieve at Silverstone in April 2026?

    Pin became the first woman to drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car at Silverstone, testing the team’s 2021 W12 challenger as part of her development driver duties.

    Which other female drivers have recently tested Formula 1 machinery?

    Susie Wolff drove in official free practice sessions for Williams in 2014, and Jessica Hawkins completed a 26-lap test in the Aston Martin AMR21 at the Hungaroring in September 2023.

  • Alexia Danielsson Confirmed as TeamViewer Wild Card Driver for F1 Academy Austin Round

    Alexia Danielsson Confirmed as TeamViewer Wild Card Driver for F1 Academy Austin Round

    F1 Academy has confirmed that Swedish driver Alexia Danielsson will make her series debut as the Wild Card entry for Round 5 of the 2026 season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The 17-year-old will represent TeamViewer, the championship’s Official Partner, driving the #45 car operated by Hitech Grand Prix during the United States Grand Prix weekend.

    Danielsson’s Rapid Rise Through Junior Formulas

    Danielsson began her single-seater career in 2022, graduating from Aquilia Formula 1000 to the Nordic 4 Championship two years later. She claimed her maiden victory in Nordic 4 last season before switching to the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia in 2025, where she won on debut. This year, she delivered a points-scoring rookie campaign in the F4 CEZ Championship.

    Her trajectory accelerated sharply during last week’s F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra, where she posted the second-fastest time overall, marking her as a standout performer among the next generation of female talent.

    TeamViewer “Forward Together” Livery Celebrates Women’s Communities

    Danielsson’s Hitech-run entry will carry a special-edition livery designed around TeamViewer’s Forward Together campaign. The initiative highlights how formal and informal communities help women enter and advance in sports and technology roles. The car’s design features 250 inspiring women representing communities focused on:

    • Leadership development
    • Advancing women in technology
    • Empowering the next generation in STEM
    • Strengthening professional networks
    • Driving greater inclusion in motorsport and automotive industries

    Danielsson: “An Experience I Will Never Forget”

    The Swedish teenager expressed her enthusiasm following the official announcement.

    “It has been an absolutely incredible few days,” said Danielsson. “First, to be given this opportunity by McLaren and then to perform so well at the F1 ACADEMY test was more than I had dared hope for.

    “And now it is also official that I will race as a Wild Card in F1 ACADEMY during the United States Grand Prix, which feels absolutely amazing. Racing at COTA in front of such a huge crowd, right in the middle of a Formula 1 weekend, will be an experience I will never forget and something I can build on going forward.”

    Danielsson spoke further about the magnitude of competing during a Formula 1 race weekend.

    “More than anything, I’m just really excited to get the chance to race during a Formula 1 weekend. I’ve only been to an F1 race once before, and that was at Zandvoort in the Netherlands a month ago, when McLaren announced me as one of their drivers for the Rookie Test.

    “My main goal for the weekend is to learn as much as I possibly can. I’m also competing for a place on the grid for the full season next year, so if I get that opportunity, I want to be as prepared as I can be.”

    F1 Academy and TeamViewer Leadership on the Partnership

    Karin Fink, Head of Commercial Operations at F1 Academy, emphasized the series’ community-driven ethos.

    “Motorsports has always had a strong community behind it, and this is no different at F1 ACADEMY. The drivers are supported by so many around them, so it is nice to see some of those communities that inspire change for women, both on and off the track, featured on TeamViewer’s livery. By creating spaces where women not only belong but also have the opportunity to engage and share knowledge, we are able to empower more women to advance, no matter the industry.”

    Faith Wheller, VP of Brand and Sports Partnerships at TeamViewer, highlighted the evolution of the company’s campaign.

    “Building on our campaign last year where we brought visibility to role models, this year we wanted to do something just as important to helping women advance. Forward Together highlights the need for communities and the role they play in our careers.

    “The opportunity to support a young talent like Alexia in her F1 ACADEMY debut while also featuring many women who have supported the next generation in other industries is why this livery is so important. We look forward to being in Austin this October to support Alexia in person.”

    Austin Debut Sets Stage for 2027 Aspirations

    Danielsson’s Wild Card appearance at COTA serves a dual purpose: gaining invaluable experience in the F1 Academy machinery on a world stage and auditioning for a full-time seat in the 2027 season. With the series’ growing alignment with Formula 1 weekends, the Austin round offers maximum exposure for the rising star and the Forward Together message.