Doriane Pin joins Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme, enters F1 Academy

RACERS

Jan 16, 20244 min read

Sportscar star Doriane Pin's recent successes in F4 served as preparation for the upcoming F1 Academy campaign, as the Frenchwoman officially joins the Mercedes AMG Junior Programme and will contest the all-female series with Prema Racing.

Sports cars star Doriane Pin, 20, has made headlines in her rookie season in World Endurance Championship, climbing the podium and battling at the front of the LMP2 class – but has been equally impressive in her first ever outings in F4 machinery, having just made her single seater debut in December in the revived F4 SEA championship.

In her first two race meetings in F4, Pin took 4 podiums and a race win, eventually finishing second in the championship standings despite missing the first triple-header. Less than a week ago, the Frenchwoman continued to turn heads with a stellar debut in the highly-competitive F4 UAE championship, where she secured two top-10 finishes including a P6 among a 33 car field of the most promising single-seater junior drivers in the world.

The start of her single seater journey served as preparation for her debut in the F1-promoted F1 Academy championship, the all-female series that will enter its sophomore campaign in 2024. Pin will in fact join the ranks of the Mercedes AMG Junior Programme and will represent the Mercedes F1 team in the upcoming season, in a Prema Racing entry.

"I am incredibly happy to join the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme and to represent the team in F1 Academy this year with PREMA Racing", Doriane commented.

"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."

Pin is in fact expected to remain part of the Iron Dames project, as she embarks on her route to the F1 ladder. With all 10 F1 teams now involved in the second F1 Academy season, Mercedes AMG, Prema and Iron Dames will join forces to maximise Doriane's talent and opportunities.

"Doriane is an exciting talent and we're pleased to begin our participation in F1 Academy with her as our chosen driver", added Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team. "We have kept a close eye on her development in recent years as she has consistently impressed."

"The fantastic support of Deborah Mayer and the Iron Dames organisation has enabled her to display her abilities to this point; she has taken full advantage of that opportunity with determination and skill. We now look forward to working in conjunction with Iron Dames, PREMA Racing and F1 Academy to support Doriane as she takes the next step in her career."

Doriane Pin has been one of the most exciting female prospects of the last 10 years, having collected wins at every level she has so far competed. The 20-year-old graduated from karting in 2020, after becoming French karting champion in 2019. She stepped up to the Renault Clio Cup one year later – and then her career took off once she joined the revolutionary Iron Dames project, for which she made the leap into GT3 machinery in 2021 – taking podiums in Michelin Le Mans Cup. It won't be long until she joined the main Iron Dames line up in one-off outings in ELMS, and she then entered – and dominated – the 2022 Ferrari Challenge Europe season with a stunning 9 victories over 14 races.

Pin was also a crucial part of the line ups that secured Iron Dames' first historic victories at the 24 Hours of Spa and at the 4H of Portimao in ELMS, before graduating to prototypes in 2023. At the wheel of the Prema Racing's LMP2 Oreca, Pin teamed up with experienced drivers such as Mirko Bortolotti and former F1 racer Daniil Kvyat – often matching their race pace. She was second in her first ever LMP2 race, and was close to a race win on several occasions, which gained her the 'Revelation of the Year' acknowledgement.

Doriane also left her mark in her first ever IMSA season, where she was among the fastest drivers in the GTD class, especially in qualifying.

Her recent performances in F4 put her among the most anticipated drivers for the 2024 F1 Academy season.

"Since her entry into the Iron Dames project in 2021, Doriane has been a demonstration of talent, determination and exceptional maturity. Becoming a member of the Mercedes-AMG Junior Programme is, for Doriane, a promising step in her young career." – said Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames project founder. "As Formula 1 Academy develops, lining-up for its second season, it promises to be an interesting challenge for her. This is also a wonderful and very positive symbol of the resonance and impact that the Iron Dames project can have in nurturing and blossoming talent. We are proud and delighted to be able to continue to support Doriane as she takes her dream as far as possible."

F1 Academy enters its first season as full-time F1 support series and will host its first of a 7 triple-header events at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 7th.