Pin got behind the wheel of the Mercedes W12, which was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the 2021 Constructors' title‑winning season, and made history.
Honestly, when I first saw this popping up on the trending news India feeds, I thought it was just another hype piece. But then I read the details Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy champion, actually sat in a Mercedes W12 that won the 2021 Constructors' title. That’s the same car that Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas raced to glory. It felt like a real breaking news moment, not just a viral snippet.
The test was part of Mercedes’ Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, a private initiative where the team lets selected drivers take older but still potent machinery out on track. For Pin, it wasn’t just a publicity stunt; it was the culmination of years of hard work, from karting in France to simulator sessions in Brackley. In most cases, you only hear about male drivers getting such opportunities, so this was a refreshing change.
What happened next is interesting the whole motorsport world took notice. Social media lit up with reactions from fans in Delhi to Mumbai, and many Indian racing enthusiasts shared the clip as part of their daily India updates. It’s not every day you see a woman driving a Mercedes F1 car, especially one with such a storied legacy.
Silverstone, for many of us, is more than just a racing track; it’s a pilgrimage spot for auto lovers. Pin’s dream day began early in the morning when the mist still clung to the historic corners. She told reporters, “Today is a very special day. I will drive for the first time a Formula 1 car at Silverstone. Very looking forward to it. It’s going to be a big day and something that I have dreamed of for so long.” The excitement in her voice was palpable, and you could almost feel the adrenaline through the screen.
When she finally settled into the cockpit, the whole atmosphere shifted. The roar of the V6 turbo‑hybrid engine, the smell of burnt rubber, the vibration through the steering it was a sensory overload that most of us only imagine. She later said, “I will enjoy every second and take this chance to build myself and continue to grow… and I will keep you posted on how special this day is.” Those words resonated with many young racers across India who are looking for a sign that they, too, can break into the highest echelons of motorsport.
The moment she crossed the start‑line, many viewers on YouTube and social platforms shared the clip, and it quickly turned into viral news. People were especially surprised that a woman could handle the sheer power of a 1000‑horsepower machine that had once out‑paced the likes of Hamilton.
Pin’s journey to this point is a story worth sharing over a cup of chai. After clinching the 2025 F1 Academy title, she didn’t just sit back. Instead, she jumped straight into a development driver role with Mercedes, spending countless hours in the simulator, tweaking setups, and feeding data back to the engineers. She also kept her racing instincts sharp by returning to endurance racing, where she secured a podium in the LMP2 class during the European Le Le Mans Series opener in Barcelona.
It’s easy to overlook how much hard work goes into a single test drive. In most cases, a driver needs to prove they can handle the car’s brakes, manage tyre temperatures, and communicate effectively with a pit crew that might be speaking a mix of English and German. Pin did all that, and the engineers on the wall were visibly impressed. They didn’t just hand her the wheel; they monitored telemetry, lap times, and feedback, just like they would with any seasoned driver.
Many people were surprised by this level of integration because the narrative around women in F1 often focuses on one‑off appearances. Pin’s test showed that she is being groomed for a longer, more sustainable path rather than a token presence.
Women breaking into Formula 1 has always been a tough nut to crack. The last female driver to take part in an F1 race weekend was Susie Wolff back in 2014, and Jessica Hawkins made headlines with a private test in 2023. Pin’s achievement adds another brick to that growing wall.
She’s quick to point out that this isn’t about a single headline; it’s about steady progress. In an earlier interview, she said, “It’s a very interesting role… important for my career and to develop as a person and also as a driver.” She’s aware that the path ahead involves more than just a one‑off test. “For sure, the second step [being] FP1 would be good, but that’s not yet in place… I hope I will have more opportunities in the future to drive the car and be competitive,” she added.
This measured approach is what many of us in the Indian racing community appreciate. Instead of rushing, she’s building a foundation that could inspire a whole generation of girls who dream of racing at Monza or Yas Marina.
Mercedes isn’t just a team; it’s a brand that carries massive influence in the sport. Their decision to involve Pin in the TPC programme sends a strong signal that they are serious about diversifying their driver pool. The team posted the milestone on X, calling it a historic moment.
From a strategic standpoint, giving a young talent like Pin real‑track exposure helps the team gather fresh data, especially as they transition to newer hybrid regulations. It also aligns with their global brand image, which, in India, resonates with the growing appetite for inclusivity and gender equality.
Fans here in Bangalore and Kolkata have been quick to share the news as part of their trending news India feed, hailing Mercedes for taking a bold step. The coverage has been so extensive that even non‑racing blogs have written about it, marking it as breaking news across multiple platforms.
From a personal perspective, I remember watching a Formula 1 race on a tiny TV in my uncle’s living room, cheering whenever Hamilton took the lead. Seeing a woman now behind the wheel of his old car felt like the sport finally opened a new chapter for us everyday fans.
In most Indian households, sports discussions revolve around cricket, but there’s a growing niche of motorsport enthusiasts who keep an eye on the latest news India and share clips on WhatsApp groups. Pin’s test quickly became a hot topic in those chats not just because it was a cool visual, but because it represented a real opportunity for Indian women who are increasingly taking up karting and junior formulae.
Moreover, the fact that the test happened at Silverstone, a track that many Indian drivers only dream of visiting, adds another layer of aspiration. One of my friends from Pune, who’s been racing in the MRF Challenge, said, “If Doriane can do it, why can’t one of us? It’s a motivational boost.” That sentiment captures why this story is more than just breaking news; it’s a spark for future talent.
Looking ahead, the real question is what steps will follow this historic test. Will Pin get a chance to participate in a free‑practice session (FP1) at a Grand Prix? Will she continue working on the simulator? These are the things the fans are eagerly waiting for, and every time a new update appears, it spikes the traffic on Indian news portals.
Mercedes has hinted that they are considering more opportunities, but nothing concrete has been announced yet. Meanwhile, Pin herself remains focused, saying she wants to “keep building herself and grow.” That level of humility, mixed with ambition, makes her a relatable figure for many Indian youngsters who balance studies and racing dreams.
Stay tuned, because whenever there’s an update, it’s bound to become part of the Viral news cycle againespecially as we approach the next Indian Grand Prix, where the spotlight will be brighter than ever.
