Mercedes Confirms First Female F1 Driver for 2026 Season

Mercedes promotes Doriane Pin to Development Driver role

Doriane Pin is moving up in the world of Formula 1. The French racing star has been promoted to Development Driver at Mercedes, taking on bigger responsibilities with the team.

Pin, who dominated the 2025 F1 Academy championship with Prema as part of Mercedes’ Junior Team, is now graduating from junior status to a more significant role.

What exactly will she be doing? The 22-year-old will work on simulator development and contribute to various team activities both at the factory and trackside.

She’ll also attend several Grand Prix weekends throughout the season, where she’ll support and mentor Mercedes’ 2026 F1 Academy driver.

Pin’s promotion comes after an incredible championship campaign. She claimed four race victories and stood on the podium four more times on her way to clinching the title in Las Vegas.

“I’m very proud and grateful to take on the role of Development Driver with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team,” Pin said about her new position. “My two years as part of the Junior Programme have helped me grow as a driver, and this is a fantastic next step in my career.”

She added, “I’m excited to keep working with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth and progressing toward future opportunities, both on and off track.”

The team is clearly impressed with what they’ve seen from Pin so far.

Bradley Lord, representing Mercedes, praised her performance: “In her two years within our F1 Academy team, she combined dedication, speed, and racecraft with strong technical feedback and engineering knowledge, culminating in her championship success last season.”

“These skills are vital to progress up the motorsport ladder, and this new role will help Doriane continue to grow and develop as a driver on her motorsport journey,” he said.

With the 2026 season approaching, fans can stay updated on all the latest F1 developments through GPBlog’s Paddock Update series.

Check out their latest episodes on YouTube and Spotify to keep up with all the action as teams prepare for the new Formula 1 regulations.

Albert Ramirez
Albert Ramirez
Albert Ramirez is a senior writer at F1Highlights.com. With a passion for motorsports, Albert brings a unique perspective to the world of Formula One. With over five years of experience as a sports reporter, he has honed his skills in capturing the essence of the sport.

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