Interview
‘You’re the one that has to be there all the time‘ – Pin on the winning mindset behind her 2025 F1 ACADEMY title
Watching the title you’ve dreamt of slip out of your reach, Doriane Pin left the 2024 F1 ACADEMY campaign with her burning ambition unfulfilled. Yet, if the beginning of her racing journey had taught her anything, it’s that some things are worth waiting for…
Too small to reach the go-kart pedals at seven years old, she had to watch from the sidelines for two and a half years. Finally able to get behind the wheel, the star quality burned bright.
French karting titles were soon followed by a dominant run to the 2022 Ferrari Challenge Europe — Trofeo Pirelli (Pro) crown and class win at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Building a reputation as one of endurance racing’s brightest young stars, Pin podiumed on her LMP2 debut in the World Endurance Championship and was later lauded with their Revelation of the Year Award. Despite the success, single-seaters were never far from her heart.
Pivoting into Formula 4, Pin finished second in the South East Asian F4 Championship. Throughout this, the Mercedes Formula 1 Team were keeping an eager eye on her development. Wasting no time in recruiting her for their first season in F1 ACADEMY, it was a decision that will reverberate throughout her racing journey.
“I’ve grown so much,” reflects Pin. “It will definitely help me in my entire career. F1 ACADEMY and everything around it is big and I will never give up on achieving my ultimate goal – that’s Formula 1.”
THE ONE TO BEAT
No stranger to battling for a title, Pin’s expectations for herself were apparent from the outset. In a storming debut, the Mercedes junior delivered both pole positions in Jeddah and had been on track for a clean sweep in both races, before receiving a time penalty for taking the chequered flag twice at full speed.
Two more victories and five further podiums followed, but Pin couldn’t get close enough to unseat rival Abbi Pulling on her way to glory. Back with a vengeance for her second season, the French racer knew she couldn’t afford to be anything less than a Champion in the making.
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“Just being in the present,” replies Pin when asked about her mentality throughout the campaign. “Winning and fighting for a title for the whole year hasn’t been easy because when you’re leading, you’re the one to beat. You’re the one that has to be there all the time.
“We have been very good all year, especially the last weekend in Vegas – we’ve been spot on from FP1 to the last lap of the race. We prepare well, we have the right mindset and it’s definitely the right way to approach things when you’re focusing on yourself and being in the moment.”
It was far from a straightforward run to the title though. A season-long duel with Maya Weug pushed both drivers to the limit. Pin initially got the upper hand, snatching victory from out of the Ferrari driver’s hands in Shanghai Race 2. Weug then usurped her hold on the Standings lead in Jeddah and Miami, despite Pin charging her way through from sixth to the win in Race 1 in the United States.
"Keep working hard and never give up. The work you’re doing always pays off."
Ultimately, it would be her astonishing consistency that would carry her through. Swinging the title fight in her favour with a 20-point advantage after Round 4 in Montreal, the 22-year-old kept herself out of Weug’s clutches as her rival forced their contest down to the final round of the year.
TAKING THE TITLE LAP BY LAP
Drama ensued in Race 1 as a last-minute downpour fell on the Las Vegas streets, while her rival Weug collided with Tina Hausmann during the formation laps. As her title hopes rested in the balance, Pin admits her unflinching determination was rattled by the pressure.
“I felt it a bit yesterday because the rain was not expected and you want to do well,” she acknowledges. “We actually did very well and because we were very ready and focused, we took it lap by lap. We were smart in terms of racecraft and I did a really aggressive move as well. We were spot on.
“Today, I was very calm in the car. I know that 20 points is a really good advantage. I wanted to win the race. We had the pace to but you have to be smart as well when approaching this race. It’s about how intelligent you are sometimes and your approach. I’m very happy about this weekend especially, because we have been very ahead of our contenders in terms of approach. It’s clearly making a difference because we are champions.”
Pin adds: “Race 1, that was the race of a good mentality. It was a very stressful one but the weekend has been beautiful and one of the best moments in my career so far.”
Claiming that crucial fourth win and a 20-point lead with 26 left to play for, Pin was 13 laps away from being crowned Champion. Although she never stopped believing the title was possible, she refused to accept it was in her grasp until she took the final chequered flag in fifth place, 15 points ahead of Weug.
‘THE WORK YOU’RE DOING ALWAYS PAYS OFF’
Eight podiums, including four wins, and a points-scoring streak stretching across her entire F1 ACADEMY career, the notion of an off weekend doesn’t seem present in the story of Pin’s season. Even a bad day in the office like the ‘disappointing’ loss of the Singapore Race 2 win on the final lap or P6 in Zandvoort Race 1 would be a great day for others. Setting herself a high bar no matter the occasion, Pin’s relentless in her pursuit of perfection.
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“When you’re not winning, it’s challenging because you doubt yourself,” she admits. “You always put yourself first to know what you could do better, what you could improve, what you could do next time.
“Zandvoort was a good example. It was not easy at all but we were still there performing on Sunday. Keep working hard and never give up. The work you’re doing always pays off.”
‘IT’S A PRIVILEGE’
Savouring her title success, it’s clear that Pin’s race to the top has only just begun. Quick, decisive and intelligent, she’s embodied all the characteristics of a Champion over her two-season stint, both on and off the track.
Whilst her next step has yet to be revealed, the end destination remains unchanged — reaching the pinnacle of motorsport…
"Keep working hard and never give up. The work you’re doing always pays off."
“I’ve definitely grown a lot as a person because you’re in such an incredible world,” she reflects. “Every day you learn something so it’s super fascinating when you’re passionate about motorsport and the high level of sport. I’ve learned so much in terms of driving, but also outside the track and on myself as well. I’m really proud of everything I learned because I know it’s a privilege and I know it’s going to be very helpful for the rest of my career.”
Pin concludes: “Now we need to have a serious discussion. We are champions and that was the deal, so now we will discuss with Mercedes what we will do next. The idea is to have a long and successful career. Hopefully we will achieve good things with everyone who is involved at the moment with me.”