The highly anticipated new season of the F1 Academy, the all-female racing series, has begun. The aim is to focus on developing the skills of young female drivers towards higher formula categories. But among all, Doriane Pin is the one who has already started to test the territory, without leaving any crumbs.
Doriane Pin is not a beginner, in fact she already boasts of having obtained several victories and prizes. She is a French girl who races in the F1 Academy for Prema Racing supported by the Mercedes team. Last year she raced in the WEC where she finished on the podium. Earlier this year she competed in the UAE F4 Championship where she achieved a victory.
Free practice
We are only at the beginning, but Doriane’s was a masterful performance, one of those that leaves you breathless. During the tests, she recorded some truly unexpected times, leaving her colleagues breathless. In fact, Doriane lapped in 2:03.472 with almost 8 tenths of an advantage over Abbi Pulling (+0.785) and more than a second over Maya Weug.
Qualifying and the first race totally dominated
During qualifying, she gave the opportunity to reconfirm her determination and consistency that she showed during free practice. In fact, she managed to win pole for both races. The weekend, March 8, International Women’s Day, kicks off the first race of this second season. What was seen during qualifying was reconfirmed again during Race 1. Despite the Safety Car and some small battles, she managed to dominate and hold her own for the entire duration of the race. And that’s how she won on her F1 Academy debut. On the top step of the podium, a smiling Doriane Pin demonstrates what she is made of. The screams, the applause, the laughter, the joy of a girl who runs without rivals. Her face streaked with sweat, her hair in disarray are the signs of an effort that has just ended. And she smilingly raises her prize high, so deserved and wanted.
Doriane Pin has already shown what she is capable of doing, she has demonstrated it on several other cars where she triumphed without much effort. But her skill is not only shown on the pitch, but also in how she prepares. Before each race, she studies the circuits, the possible strategies that can be used, also calculating the possible setbacks. To prepare for this first race, she studied Lewis Hamilton‘s pole position in Jeddah in 2021. She collected data, studied the possible perfect moves. And perhaps this was useful for her to better manage this first race.
Race 2 and penalty
The incredible dominance was also seen during the second race. A race characterized by several accidents and safety cars. But this did not distract her from her goal. She left no space for anyone, except Abbi Pulling, who was closest to her. Doriane Pin drove almost the entire time alone, also managing to record three fastest laps. However, something happened to her at the end of the race that cost her a 20-second penalty. Doriane Pin did not realize that the race was over, continuing with another lap. Here the red flag was triggered with the penalty, and she was forced to give up the podium to her partner Abbie Pulling. A serious mistake, certainly due to a lack of communication between you and your race engineer.
The perseverance of Doriane Pin
However, what happened does not erase what he did on the track. The great work of a driver who whizzed through the bends of the Jeddah circuit the entire time without too much effort. She is proof that the qualities of a driver don’t just stop at racing on the track. But it is that continuous research, that continuous desire to improve, taking notes. Studying every lead in detail.
What we witnessed today is just the beginning. But she has nothing to prove. There are the victories she won in 2021 and 2023 that make us understand the capabilities of this girl. The little Max Verstappen of the F1 Academy. Same hunger, desire and determination to win. That confidence in herself that makes all the other teammates on the track doubt. Grit, determination and perseverance, this is Doriane Pin. With qualities that perhaps distinguishes it from everything else. The road is still long, but she has already started to test the territory.
