Photo: Mercedes-AMG F1
The Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team has announced it has signed sportscar star and recent single-seater convert Doriane Pin as one of its junior drivers.
The 20-year-old is currently racing in Formula 4 United Arab Emirates with Prema and sits 10th in the standings after round one. She made her single-seater debut with the team late last year in F4 South East Asia, where she was championship runner-up with one win and three other podiums, and following F4 UAE she will be one of its drivers in the all-female F1 Academy series.
“I’m incredibly happy to join the Mercedes Junior Pprogramme and to represent the team in F1 Academy this year with Prema,” said the Frenchwoman.
“A new chapter begins, and I am proud to make this next step in such a prestigious team and with the Iron Dames project. I am grateful for their trust and honoured to race for their colours.
“Moving into single-seaters was a clear objective for my career, and to be in this environment is a great approach. I am working very hard to reach the top level of this sport and I cannot wait to go racing.”
Since starting her car racing career in Renault Clio Cup France in 2020, Pin has gone on to win a Ferrari Challenge Europe title and race in the World Endurance Championship, Intercontinental GT Challenge and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe as a driver of Iron Dames – a project founded by Prema’s co-owner Deborah Mayer.
Pin took the Gold Cup win in the Spa 24 Hours and came ninth in the European Le Mans Series’ GTE class in 2022, taking a win and a second place from three starts, and last year was ninth in WEC’s LMP2 class with Prema while also contesting IMSA races in a Lamborghini.
“Doriane is an exciting talent and we’re pleased to begin our participation in F1 Academy with her as our chosen driver,” said Mercedes’ F1 team principal Toto Wolff. “We have kept a close eye on her development in recent years as she has consistently impressed.”
Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes’ driver development advisor, added: “We’re delighted to have Doriane join our junior programme. She is an incredibly exciting talent; her results in endurance racing highlight the promise she has and her first few races in single-seaters have been extremely encouraging.
“We are looking forward to working with her this year and not only helping her growth as a driver but competing at the sharp end in F1 Academy. We fully believe she is capable of fighting for the title this year and going on to further success in the single-seater pyramid.”