Race and classic pictures

Pin makes history – becomes first female to test a Mercedes F1 car!

©Mercedes

History was in the making today at Silverstone, where F1 Academy champion Dorian Pin became the first female driver to ever test a Mercedes F1 car.

The 22-year-old French woman was screaming down Hanger Straight at the wheel of the Brackley squad’s 2021 championship winning W12 for what was anything but a routine outing.

Pin’s journey to her landmark moment has been relentless. After a stellar 2024 debut in single-seaters and a dominant title run last year, she has stepped into a vital role as a Mercedes F1 development driver.

While she’s already been putting in the hours alongside Frederik Vesti in the simulator, Saturday’s test marked her long-awaited transition from pixels to high-downforce reality.

Mercedes’ regular chargers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, were both present at Silverstone to help guide Pin through a baptism of fire that she’ll likely never forget.

Even with a packed schedule this year that includes a return to the Le Mans 24 Hours and a full-time campaign in the European Le Mans Series, Pin’s ultimate goal remains unchanged: landing a seat among motorsport’s elite.

For Mercedes, Saturday’s test was both a reward and an investment. For Pin, it’s validation – and a glimpse of what could lie ahead.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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