A look at Doriane Pin’s impressive rookie season in the 2024 F1 Academy, from her debut dominance to becoming vice-champion.
Doriane Pin: Rising Star in F1 Academy
Doriane Pin entered the 2024 F1 Academy season as a rookie, but her remarkable performances quickly established her as a standout talent.
From a near-flawless debut in Saudi Arabia to a fierce battle for the championship, the Mercedes junior proved she belongs among the best.
An Almost Perfect Debut
Round 1 of F1 Academy took place in Saudi Arabia, and Doriane Pin launched her debut season with a commanding performance.
In a weekend where Pin, alongside Abbi Pulling and Maya Weug, established themselves as key contenders for the 2024 season, it was the Frenchwoman who emerged on top.
The Mercedes junior secured pole position for both races, with Pulling and Weug locking out the next two grid spots in that order.
Unchallenged at the front, Pin claimed victory in both Race 1 and Race 2, leading every lap in both. She achieved a grand slam in Race 2 by snatching the fastest lap from Pulling in the dying moments of the race.
However, her Race 2 win turned bittersweet. After crossing the finish line, Pin mistakenly completed another full-strength lap instead of her cooldown lap, crossing the line again. A miscommunication with her team prompted officials to wave the red flag.
This error resulted in a 20-second penalty, dropping Pin to P9 and handing Pulling the victory. With this, Pulling also claimed the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, relegating Pin to P3.
READ MORE: How Did Abbi Pulling Become the 2024 F1 Academy Champion?
Misfortunes
Despite her blistering pace, Pin couldn’t replicate her Saudi dominance when F1 Academy moved to Miami and Barcelona.
During these rounds, Pulling asserted her supremacy with four wins and two grand slams, while Chloe Chambers shone with three podiums, including a maiden win that gave Haas their first-ever victory.
Pin secured a podium in Miami, finishing P2 in the standings – a position she never relinquished for the rest of the season—but struggled in Spain.
At Catalunya, the PREMA driver qualified P4 and P3 for Races 1 and 2 respectively.
A disastrous start in Race 1 saw her tumble to P12. Despite some crucial overtaking, Pin could only recover to P7.
In Race 2, another poor start dropped her to P6. Although she displayed flashes of brilliance, Pin couldn’t win the battle for second place, ultimately finishing P4.
Back on Top
After the summer break, Pin returned revitalized.
In Zandvoort, she crossed the line in P2 for Race 1, where she had started. However, a false start earned her a 5-second penalty dropping her to P5.
She redeemed herself in Race 2 with a flawless performance, taking a grand slam and showcasing the skill that had marked her debut in Saudi Arabia.
Another False Start
In Singapore, Pulling denied Pin pole position. Pin started Race 1 in P3 and Race 2 in P2.
A false start in Race 1 earned her another 5-second penalty, but she managed to hold onto P3. Though unable to challenge teammate Weug for P2, Pin resisted pressure from Lia Block to secure the final podium spot.
In Race 2, Pin lost P2 to Weug at the start and had to settle for third.
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Vice Champion
All season, Pin remained Pulling’s closest rival for the 2024 F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship.
Heading into Qatar, despite securing another grand slam, Pin was mathematically eliminated from title contention.
However, a barrier-damage incident during the Porsche support race led to Race 2’s cancellation, adding a third race to the Abu Dhabi finale and giving Pin a slim chance.
To win the title, Pin needed a perfect weekend, claiming grand slams in all three races to gain 84 points while relying on Pulling to score none.
But Pulling’s dominance prevailed as she took pole for all three races, sealing the championship before the racing even began.
Pin’s weekend unravelled when Prema gambled on a late qualifying run. The Frenchwoman had laps deleted due to track limits violations, relegating her to P5 for Races 1 and 2 and P3 for Race 3.
Pin finished Race 1 in P3, Race 2 in P4, and Race 3 in P5.
The final race saw her make a strong start, but contact with Chambers dropped them both down the order. Pin recovered to finish eighth, later promoted to sixth after penalties were applied.
Poised for Greatness
Pin ended the season as vice-champion with 217 points, 121 behind the 2024 F1 Academy champion, Pulling. Weug secured third in the standings, 40 points behind Pin.
To finish second in her first season of single-seater racing is a remarkable achievement, and Pin has every reason to be proud.
Armed with lessons learned and undeniable talent, Pin is well-positioned to dominate F1 Academy if she returns for her second and final season.
Notably, she contributed 51% of Prema’s 423 points – an impressive testament to her impact on the team.
READ NEXT: 2024 F1 Academy Season Review
