(Jeddah) “My goal is to one day drive in Formula 1 and become world champion”: Frenchwoman Doriane Pin, who victoriously discovered the F1 Academy this weekend, the single-seater championship reserved for women, climbed the ladder at full speed and believed strongly in his dream.
The young 20-year-old driver, French karting champion in 2019, seizes every opportunity that presents itself to be able to practice her passion and continue to grow.
“I haven’t closed any doors. No matter what car you drive in and what championship you participate in, you always learn things and that’s what makes you move forward and progress,” she explains to AFP.
The Iron Dames team, which supports the inclusion of women in the industry, offered her her first professional contract in 2021 and since then the successes have continued.
After winning the Ferrari Challenge Europe in 2022, a mixed championship, Doriane Pin discovered the world endurance championship (WEC) in 2023 alongside former Russian F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, with a podium result. and a first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, “the most legendary race in the world” according to her.
” a dream come true ”
Her performances have not gone unnoticed since after joining the 100% female Iron Dames crew for the 2024 WEC season, she was chosen at the beginning of January by the prestigious Mercedes F1 team to represent the brand during the second season of the F1 Academy, the women’s single-seater championship organized this year alongside certain Grands Prix.
“I am very grateful and honored to be part of this team. The support from Mercedes makes a big difference in my development, in terms of technique and professionalization,” she emphasizes.
It also allowed him to meet Mercedes F1 drivers George Russell and his idol Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, in Jeddah.
Lewis inspired me a lot and made me want to do motorsport. We had a great conversation, it was very interesting. We talked about his experience, his start to his career and also about Jeddah, because he knows the circuit well so he gave me advice. It was a highlight.
Doriane Pin
“He asked me if I took notes and I told him yes, that I wrote down in a little notebook everything we did, my feelings, my questions and he told me that he too did the same something since the start of his career! It was a bit of a dream come true to meet him,” the Frenchwoman told AFP with stars in her eyes.
Perfect weekend in Jeddah
And the young driver’s debut on the fast urban track of Jeddah was thunderous as she had a perfect weekend aboard her Prema Racing F4 in Mercedes colors, taking the two leading positions and the two victories in Saudi Arabia.
“The weekend was incredible for us, I loved every minute in the car, I’m delighted. “It’s great to have the opportunity to race alongside F2 and F1, because it gives us the opportunity to learn a lot from them,” she explained.
Doriane Pin knows that if she wants to continue to climb the hierarchy to hope to reach the Holy Grail, F1, she must get noticed in F1 Academy.
“The objective is to win the championship and for that we will have to be consistent. I want to continue to progress to drive at the highest possible level,” assures AFP the native of Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne), who now lives in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes).
And when we ask her if F1 is an accessible goal, her answer is quick to respond: “Everything is possible, it’s just a question of time, but also of talent and work,” she says. There are only 20 drivers racing in F1 so it is very difficult to reach this level, but it is possible. »