Mercedes keeps Doriane Pin in F1 Academy in 2025, as Sauber bids goodbye to Theo Pourchaire and Zane Maloney.
Doriane Pin –
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Junior Doriane Pin returns to F1 Academy in 2025, with another title challenge firmly in the sights of the French racer. Driving the Mercedes-AMG F1 Academy entry, operated by Prema Racing, Pin is looking to go one better than her impressive second place finish in this year’s female series.
Doriane’s F1 Academy campaign forms the centre piece of her 2025 plans. The 20-year-old Iron Dame will also compete in the Formula Regional European Championship once again and take part in select rounds of the F4 United Arab Emirates Championship at the start of the season.
Doriane said: “I am excited to continue this journey together with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Iron Dames next year. After becoming vice champion in F1 Academy in my maiden season, I am extremely motivated to go for the drivers’ title in 2025. I will be pushing myself hard to improve over the winter and hopefully can enjoy an even stronger season next year.”
Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Driver Development Advisor, commented: “Doriane has enjoyed a very successful first season in single-seaters. Making the switch from GT and endurance cars is never easy, as both the driving style and skill set required is different. She has handled that change well, achieving success in several championships and competing strongly in F1 Academy.
“She has scored some notable successes and finishing second overall in her first season in the category is a superb achievement. Considering the progress she has taken this year and the experience she now has, we are confident that Doriane can fight for the F1 Academy title in 2025. We, along with Iron Dames, are looking forward to supporting her as she does so and looking forward to a successful year ahead.”
Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames founder, added: “Doriane embodies the values of the Iron Dames: passion, determination, and an exemplary attitude. We are proud to see her representing the Iron Dames on the international stage at just 20 years old and inspiring the next generation of female drivers.
“Her 2025 campaign will enable her to consolidate her place among the world’s top single-seater talents. With the unwavering support of the Iron Dames family and elite partnerships with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 and PREMA Racing, we are ensuring she has the best possible environment in which to develop and succeed at the highest level.”
Rene Rosin, Team Principal of Prema Racing, said: “We are proud of what Doriane accomplished in 2024 and we are delighted to continue working with her in 2025. Transitioning to a new environment in single-seaters, she was focused and determined as she climbed her learning curve while defying adversities. The results proved she has the potential to be a top competitor, and we cannot wait to see where she will be able to go from here.”
Doriane has confirmed herself as one of the foremost female racing drivers in recent years, impressing as she has risen though the ranks. As an Iron Dame, the Parisian is a member of a ground-breaking project that provides a pioneering platform committed to promoting and supporting women in motorsport. It is through this programme that Doriane has been able to truly demonstrate her talent behind-the-wheel and seen her career flourish.
After winning the 2019 French Championship, Doriane graduated from karting before scoring five podiums in the 2021 Le Mans Cup. That preceded a breakthrough year in 2022 that saw the then teenager become Ferrari Challenge Europe champion, winning nine out of 14 races. She also claimed victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa and took a historic win at the European Le Mans Series season-finale in the GTE-AM class.
This success led to a move into the FIA World Endurance Championship for 2023, competing in the LMP2 category alongside Mirko Bortolotti, and former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. The crew claimed a podium at the season-opening race and Doriane went on to become the first woman to win the coveted ‘Revelation of the Year’ Award. She ended the year by getting her first racing experiencing in single-seaters, claiming race wins in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship and the Formula 4 UAE Championship.
Doriane continued that single-seater success into F1 Academy, the series aimed at developing and preparing female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition. She claimed three victories and five further podium finishes en route to becoming vice champion in 2024. The category, which races on the F1 support bill, starts in China next year before visiting Saudi Arabia, Miami, Canada, Netherlands, Singapore, and concludes on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in America next November.
Sauber –
Another long, intense year of racing is ending, and the time has come to take stock for the Sauber Academy drivers. Théo Pourchaire, Zane Maloney, and Carrie Schreiner kept active throughout 2024, racing on some of the world’s most renowned circuits representing Sauber Motorsport’s driver development programme in their respective campaigns.
Joining Super Formula as the reigning Formula 2 champion, Théo Pourchaire made his debut in the Japanese series in early March. An opportunity across the Atlantic saw the young Frenchman making the move to IndyCar, promptly showcasing adaptability and race craft in his North American debut, which culminated with a points finish. His breakthrough performance in Detroit allowed Théo to achieve his first top ten finish after a steadily progress season. The momentum continued at the Toronto round in July, where he filled in for the injured Alexander Rossi, delivering a strong performance despite a whirlwind schedule that saw him arrive mere hours before the race.
Alongside his racing programmes, Théo supported Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber as reserve driver, both trackside and off the track, working at the simulator and providing crucial feedback for the team. A new chapter now awaits the Frenchman, who recently took the role of test and development driver for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship.
One of Sauber Academy’s 2024 new entries, Zane Maloney enjoyed a strong start to his Formula 2 campaign with a dominant weekend in Bahrain that saw him winning both the Sprint and the Feature Race. Zane’s season featured strong performances and consistent results; he quickly adapted to the new generation car, earning multiple podiums and remaining competitive weekend after weekend.
Despite some challenges along the way, Zane remained in contention for the title as the championship progressed. Much like fellow Academy member, Théo Pourchaire, Zane too supported the team with simulator work back at base in Hinwil in between races, as part of his Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber reserve driver role. The penultimate round of the Formula 2 championship in Qatar marked the young Barbadian’s last appearance in the series, as the following week Zane travelled to São Paulo, Brazil, for the inaugural race of the 2024-2025 Formula E Championship, making his debut for Lola Yamaha ABT.
With Formula One providing full support to F1 Academy from 2024, Carrie Schreiner was chosen to represent the team at the beginning of her second season in the series. In a campaign marked by consistent performances and steady progress, Carrie continued to show her skill and positive approach, chasing point finishes and managing to overturn tough race weekends with grit and determination. Alongside her F1 Academy commitments, Carrie also gained valuable experience in other series, taking part in the Silverstone and Zandvoort British F4 rounds; she also returned to her GT racing roots, taking part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, finishing third in the SP 8T class.
Concluding her journey in the all-female series after two seasons, Carrie will still be sporting the team’s distinctive fluo racing green and black colours, as she prepares to take on a new role as Team Brand Ambassador from 2025, promoting the team’s values and acting as a mentor for young drivers, in parallel with continuing her racing career.
It’s been a long season for the three drivers of the Sauber Academy, who are now set to graduate from the development programme. While pursuing new endeavours and progressing in their racing careers, each of them will remain part of Sauber Motorsport’s legacy in the sport, having left a mark in their own unique way.
[The story is as per press release]
