RacingDoriane Pin says Mercedes is preparing a private Formula 1 test for her after strong simulator runs, and Toto Wolff has acknowledged the plan on the Beyond The Grid podcast. At 22, the 2025 F1 Academy champion could join a short list of women to sample modern F1 machinery. The last woman to take part in a race weekend was Susie Wolff in 2014, and the most recent private test by a woman was Jessica Hawkins with Aston Martin in 2023.
Pin outlined how the plan came together, linking it to her simulator performances. "Natürlich mussten wir erst einmal abwarten, wie es im Simulator läuft, und dann war das der mögliche nächste Schritt ... Aber im Simulator lief es gut, eigentlich sogar sehr gut, und deshalb kam die Idee auf, mir einen privaten Test zu ermöglichen und mir die Chance zu geben, das echte Auto zu fahren," said Doriane Pin, Mercedes development driver, on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, confirmed on the Beyond The Grid podcast that this is the idea: a private F1 car test for Pin following her simulator work. Pin added that timing is not set, noting that a seat fit has not happened yet. She stressed she wants to be ready before she drives. "Denn ich möchte unbedingt die Chance bekommen, das Auto zu fahren und zu zeigen, dass es Potenzial gibt. Schließlich ist es mein Ziel, in die Formel 1 zu kommen ... Deshalb werde ich sicherstellen, dass ich vollkommen bereit bin, bevor ich mich in der Realität ans Steuer setze," said Doriane Pin, Mercedes development driver, on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
Mercedes set the framework for her role earlier this year. In January, the team announced Pin as its F1 development driver for 2026 and outlined how she would contribute behind the scenes. "Als Entwicklungsfahrerin wird sie Teil des Fahreraufgebots sein, das ins Entwicklungsprogramm im Simulator und weitere Aktivitäten in der Fabrik sowie an der Rennstrecke involviert ist," said the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, in a team statement during its January announcement to the media.
If the test goes ahead, it would mark a rare modern F1 outing for a woman and a tangible step in Pin’s development path with Mercedes. For now, the team appears to be working through preparation, with the simulator form creating the opening and practical steps like a seat fit still to come. Pin’s comments suggest she views the private run as both an opportunity and a test of readiness, with the focus on converting her simulator work into speed and feedback in the real car.