Doriane Pin Seizes the Crown: A Vegas Victory Lap for the 2025 F1 Academy Champion
You couldn’t have scripted a better finale if you tried. Under the neon glare of the Las Vegas strip, amidst the roaring chaos of race day, Doriane Pin didn’t just race. She stamped her name into the asphalt of history. The 21-year-old French sensation, piloting for the Silver Arrows of Mercedes, officially locked down the 2025 F1 Academy championship this Sunday, putting a definitive end to a season-long dogfight with Ferrari’s Maya Weug.
While Chloe Chambers might have taken the checkered flag in Race 2, a sweet home-soil victory for the American, the night belonged entirely to Pin. She crossed the line in fifth, but that was all she needed. With a comfortable points cushion and the raw grit she’s displayed all year, Pin secured the title that slipped through her fingers last season.
Redemption on the Strip
This championship isn’t just a trophy. It’s a statement. After losing out to Abbi Pulling in 2024, Pin came into 2025 with a chip on her shoulder and fire in her belly. The two-year series limit meant this was her last shot at the F1 Academy crown. It was do or die.
“It’s incredible. I can’t believe it,” Pin told reporters, her voice thick with the emotion of the moment. You could see the weight lifting off her shoulders. “I worked so hard for this with the team. They have been part of my success since day one when we joined Mercedes.”
Pin’s journey hasn’t been a solo ride. She was quick to credit the army behind her: her family, her father, and the Iron Dames program that sharpened her skills in the grueling world of endurance racing before she ever sat in a single-seater. “We are here today because we are strong together, and we’re champions,” she declared.
The Fight for the Finish
The race itself was a chaotic affair, exactly what you’d expect from a title decider in Vegas. Pin started with the championship in her sights, but the track had other plans. Weug, knowing she had to win to keep her slim hopes alive, fought like hell.
She managed to scrape her way past Pin, eventually finishing third behind Alisha Palmowski and the race winner, Chambers. But Pin played the long game. She didn’t need to risk it all for a podium spot; she just needed to bring the car home.
“I was focusing mainly on the race, and then the championship will come naturally,” Pin explained regarding her mindset in the cockpit. “Strong first part of the race, definitely, but then we had to fight against Maya and against Alba [Larsen], and we have the championship to win, so no risk taken obviously.”
It wasn’t without drama. A safety car on Lap 3, triggered by a tangle between Joanne Ciconte and Payton Westcott, bunched the field and frayed nerves. But when the green flag dropped again on Lap 6, Pin held her nerve. She battled, yielded when it made sense, and drove with the maturity of a veteran.
A New Era for Pin
Doriane Pin now joins an elite club, becoming the series’ third champion following Marta Garcia and Abbi Pulling. Her transition from the endurance world where she cut her teeth in the World Endurance Championship to the sprint-heavy, elbow-to-elbow nature of single-seaters has been nothing short of spectacular.
“The first season was the first season in single-seater, so we had a lot of things to learn,” Pin reflected on her growth. “It was very competitive. I’ve learned how to race. I learned how to lose and to never give up… Now we are even stronger this year, and with the title at the end.”
Final Thoughts
As the champagne sprays and the teams pack up in Vegas, one thing is clear: Doriane Pin is a force. She came, she learned, and she conquered. The F1 Academy has a new queen, and she’s just getting started.
