The Pin is mightier than the sword
@putdorianedown.bsky.social
Endurance racing, Formula E, feeder series. Occasionally F1. Doriane Pin fan account. Statistician by day, sometimes it shows up here too.
Pinned
Who is Doriane Pin, what's she done and why does she have a large fanbase for a struggling FRegional driver? A career retrospective and driver evangelism 🧵. Simple answer: she's a French racing driver; the first thing you'll notice is she's tiny - short enough she had to delay karting by a year.
My first reaction to this is "but he doesn't have enough points for a Superlicence" and yes, apparently Alpine have noticed this and just....don't care? Then I remembered Flavio Briatore is in charge over there and deciding the rules don't apply seemed more plausible.
Former McLaren junior Alex Dunne is in advanced talks with Alpine over a 2026 role, PF1 understands.
@thomasmaheronf1.bsky.social with the story.
www.planetf1.com/news/alex-du...
@thomasmaheronf1.bsky.social with the story.
www.planetf1.com/news/alex-du...
Alex Dunne in advanced talks with Alpine over F1 role in 2026
Alex Dunne is in advanced talks with Alpine about a 2026 role, with the Irishman understood to be in contention for a reserve driver position.
www.planetf1.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
My first reaction to this is "but he doesn't have enough points for a Superlicence" and yes, apparently Alpine have noticed this and just....don't care? Then I remembered Flavio Briatore is in charge over there and deciding the rules don't apply seemed more plausible.
I can see why well-adjusted people would think this, but as someone with anxiety, not how it works. Performance anxiety isn't necessarily a lack of self-belief, in can be equally about knowing how good you are and feeling the pressure to live up to that.
Lando Norris has always struggled for self-belief.
Could a first F1 title open the floodgates?
www.planetf1.com/features/abu...
Could a first F1 title open the floodgates?
www.planetf1.com/features/abu...
December 8, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I can see why well-adjusted people would think this, but as someone with anxiety, not how it works. Performance anxiety isn't necessarily a lack of self-belief, in can be equally about knowing how good you are and feeling the pressure to live up to that.
Reposted by The Pin is mightier than the sword
December 8, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Lando Norris, like all good world champions, has elected to pick up the #1 for next season. But this got me thinking: every F1 champion except Lewis Hamilton and every FE champion except Nyck de Vries has used it, but it's never been a thing in WEC. Anyone know why?
December 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Lando Norris, like all good world champions, has elected to pick up the #1 for next season. But this got me thinking: every F1 champion except Lewis Hamilton and every FE champion except Nyck de Vries has used it, but it's never been a thing in WEC. Anyone know why?
Thibaut Villemant randomly dropping tidbits about French teams in round-up articles is now a tradition. At least, I'd not read anywhere _else_ that the last Alpine seat will almost certainly have Victor Martins in it. I'm not sure picking a notoriously cursed driver for endurance is the pro strat...
December 8, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Thibaut Villemant randomly dropping tidbits about French teams in round-up articles is now a tradition. At least, I'd not read anywhere _else_ that the last Alpine seat will almost certainly have Victor Martins in it. I'm not sure picking a notoriously cursed driver for endurance is the pro strat...
Some other notes on the WEC entry list:
- Manthey you're not fooling us if you're "The Bend Manthey" the car has Yasser Shahin in it
- no #46 would mean no Rossi except they did this last year (but this time they may mean it)
- "Racing Team Turkey by TF" means Salih Yoluc.
- Manthey you're not fooling us if you're "The Bend Manthey" the car has Yasser Shahin in it
- no #46 would mean no Rossi except they did this last year (but this time they may mean it)
- "Racing Team Turkey by TF" means Salih Yoluc.
December 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Some other notes on the WEC entry list:
- Manthey you're not fooling us if you're "The Bend Manthey" the car has Yasser Shahin in it
- no #46 would mean no Rossi except they did this last year (but this time they may mean it)
- "Racing Team Turkey by TF" means Salih Yoluc.
- Manthey you're not fooling us if you're "The Bend Manthey" the car has Yasser Shahin in it
- no #46 would mean no Rossi except they did this last year (but this time they may mean it)
- "Racing Team Turkey by TF" means Salih Yoluc.
Antares Au! In an McLaren, which is a bit odd, he normally drivers Porsches, but glad to see him in WEC the man gives a good interview. Have a new team to support in LMGT3 I guess though slightly worried drivers I like are turning me into a McLaren fan (you too, Malthe).
December 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Antares Au! In an McLaren, which is a bit odd, he normally drivers Porsches, but glad to see him in WEC the man gives a good interview. Have a new team to support in LMGT3 I guess though slightly worried drivers I like are turning me into a McLaren fan (you too, Malthe).
Reposted by The Pin is mightier than the sword
🚨 2026 FIA WEC Entry List Revealed!
35 cars - 17 in Hypercar, 18 in LMGT3!
➡️ www.dailysportscar.com/2025/12/08/3...
#WEC
35 cars - 17 in Hypercar, 18 in LMGT3!
➡️ www.dailysportscar.com/2025/12/08/3...
#WEC
December 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
🚨 2026 FIA WEC Entry List Revealed!
35 cars - 17 in Hypercar, 18 in LMGT3!
➡️ www.dailysportscar.com/2025/12/08/3...
#WEC
35 cars - 17 in Hypercar, 18 in LMGT3!
➡️ www.dailysportscar.com/2025/12/08/3...
#WEC
Hoepen for the best, I suppose.
(it's not going to come off both based on Trident not being that great in F2 and probably more importantly nothing about his F3 career suggesting he has the talent for it)
(it's not going to come off both based on Trident not being that great in F2 and probably more importantly nothing about his F3 career suggesting he has the talent for it)
Laurens van Hoepen stepped up to #F2 with Trident for this season's last three rounds, and has now secured that seat full-time in 2026:
formulascout.com/laurens-van-...
formulascout.com/laurens-van-...
Laurens van Hoepen makes his step up to F2 with Trident full-time - Formula Scout
Laurens van Hoepen will race full-time in Formula 2 next year with Trident, after joining the team for the last three rounds of 2025.
formulascout.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Hoepen for the best, I suppose.
(it's not going to come off both based on Trident not being that great in F2 and probably more importantly nothing about his F3 career suggesting he has the talent for it)
(it's not going to come off both based on Trident not being that great in F2 and probably more importantly nothing about his F3 career suggesting he has the talent for it)
With today's announcements of Miyata (finally making Hitech TGR make sense!) and Dunne, I think that's all the major pieces in place for F2 2026. There's definitely still some places left but...not with teams who are actually any good. www.hitechgp.co.uk/hitech-annou...
Hitech announces Ritomo Miyata for 2026 FIA Formula 2 campaign
Hitech announces Ritomo Miyata for 2026 FIA Formula 2 campaign
www.hitechgp.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
With today's announcements of Miyata (finally making Hitech TGR make sense!) and Dunne, I think that's all the major pieces in place for F2 2026. There's definitely still some places left but...not with teams who are actually any good. www.hitechgp.co.uk/hitech-annou...
I like this idea, let's play. I think I watched all/most of 10 series
1. GB3
2=. F2
2=. F3
4. Formula E
5. ELMS
6. F1
7. IndyCar
8. WEC
9. GB4
10. IMSA
I'm never quite sure why I struggle to get in to IMSA, I don't think it's the quality of the racing. Nonetheless, I struggle to get in to IMSA.
1. GB3
2=. F2
2=. F3
4. Formula E
5. ELMS
6. F1
7. IndyCar
8. WEC
9. GB4
10. IMSA
I'm never quite sure why I struggle to get in to IMSA, I don't think it's the quality of the racing. Nonetheless, I struggle to get in to IMSA.
Now that we’re at the end of 2025 motorsports (other than 2025-26 seasons), here is a completely subjective ranking of series I enjoyed this year from most enjoyed to least:
1. IndyCar
2. WEC
3. F1
4. Formula E
5. IMSA
6. Xfinity
7. Cup
1. IndyCar
2. WEC
3. F1
4. Formula E
5. IMSA
6. Xfinity
7. Cup
December 8, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I like this idea, let's play. I think I watched all/most of 10 series
1. GB3
2=. F2
2=. F3
4. Formula E
5. ELMS
6. F1
7. IndyCar
8. WEC
9. GB4
10. IMSA
I'm never quite sure why I struggle to get in to IMSA, I don't think it's the quality of the racing. Nonetheless, I struggle to get in to IMSA.
1. GB3
2=. F2
2=. F3
4. Formula E
5. ELMS
6. F1
7. IndyCar
8. WEC
9. GB4
10. IMSA
I'm never quite sure why I struggle to get in to IMSA, I don't think it's the quality of the racing. Nonetheless, I struggle to get in to IMSA.
This got me to realise something: Lando Norris is the first F1 World Champion to have come through the FIA's pyramid system. Not quite how it is now - Formula Regional hadn't got going yet - but the first to do F4 and F2 (Verstappen skipped F3 -> F1) and have the career the FIA thinks you should.
some fun (dumb) trivia: Lando Norris is (as far as I can tell) just the sixth F1 World Champion to have raced at Knockhill, and only the second to have won a race there
he won a Ginetta Junior race at Knockhill in 2014, then one of the MSA Formula (British F4) races in 2015
he won a Ginetta Junior race at Knockhill in 2014, then one of the MSA Formula (British F4) races in 2015
December 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This got me to realise something: Lando Norris is the first F1 World Champion to have come through the FIA's pyramid system. Not quite how it is now - Formula Regional hadn't got going yet - but the first to do F4 and F2 (Verstappen skipped F3 -> F1) and have the career the FIA thinks you should.
Somehow I don't think people are going to have years of nostalgia for F1's second ground-effect era.
December 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Somehow I don't think people are going to have years of nostalgia for F1's second ground-effect era.
I wonder if the actual last person to press a DRS button is currently racing? It's currently used by F2, F3 and GB3 as well as F1, and I've not seen any news about plans to get rid of it. Quite possibly it'll last until those series replace their current cars, which might be several years yet...
Unless I'm mistaken, I think the last man to press the DRS button was Kimi Antonelli. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 7, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I wonder if the actual last person to press a DRS button is currently racing? It's currently used by F2, F3 and GB3 as well as F1, and I've not seen any news about plans to get rid of it. Quite possibly it'll last until those series replace their current cars, which might be several years yet...
Reposted by The Pin is mightier than the sword
Unless I'm mistaken, I think the last man to press the DRS button was Kimi Antonelli. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Unless I'm mistaken, I think the last man to press the DRS button was Kimi Antonelli. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
I think McLaren would probably have pitted Piastri before Norris under any other circumstance but have at this point decided that he cannot actually win the title and are free to favour Norris.
December 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I think McLaren would probably have pitted Piastri before Norris under any other circumstance but have at this point decided that he cannot actually win the title and are free to favour Norris.
Reposted by The Pin is mightier than the sword
"McLaren have still got 2 tools out there" bit harsh
December 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
"McLaren have still got 2 tools out there" bit harsh
Yuki is like "wait is that even a rule?" and given how often it gets penalised in F1 fair tbf.
December 7, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Yuki is like "wait is that even a rule?" and given how often it gets penalised in F1 fair tbf.
So Norris definitely overtook all four wheels off the track...I would probably give a 5s for that, because there was enough gap for him to stay on. But definitely not any more than that because Tsunoda was definitely trying to force him off.
December 7, 2025 at 1:40 PM
So Norris definitely overtook all four wheels off the track...I would probably give a 5s for that, because there was enough gap for him to stay on. But definitely not any more than that because Tsunoda was definitely trying to force him off.
Ah, McLaren's confidence that Norris can in fact clear this train is well-founded. Turns out this is not in fact going to the be Alonso/Webber/Vettel scenario.
December 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Ah, McLaren's confidence that Norris can in fact clear this train is well-founded. Turns out this is not in fact going to the be Alonso/Webber/Vettel scenario.
Given that Piastri is dropping Norris and catching Verstappen I'm guessing the mediums are going off. (Yeah, I'm watching the race it turns out the people I was supposed to be visiting are not having the best day).
December 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Given that Piastri is dropping Norris and catching Verstappen I'm guessing the mediums are going off. (Yeah, I'm watching the race it turns out the people I was supposed to be visiting are not having the best day).
That looked...kinda choreographed, if you ask me. F1 cars can't usually overtake at T9, especially without DRS.
December 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
That looked...kinda choreographed, if you ask me. F1 cars can't usually overtake at T9, especially without DRS.
I'm not watching the race live but one final thought before I head over to non-Motorsporty friends for lunch: it's kind of wild that all three potential world champions are somehow in the middle of their own comeback stories here.
December 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I'm not watching the race live but one final thought before I head over to non-Motorsporty friends for lunch: it's kind of wild that all three potential world champions are somehow in the middle of their own comeback stories here.
It's occurred to me that for this period of 24 hours or so we're in both the 2025 season (because F1 hasn't finished) and also in the 2025/26 season (because FE has started). I propose we refer to this period as the 2025/25/26 season.
December 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It's occurred to me that for this period of 24 hours or so we're in both the 2025 season (because F1 hasn't finished) and also in the 2025/26 season (because FE has started). I propose we refer to this period as the 2025/25/26 season.
It's always confused me that while F1 and F2 are nominally the same rules system, F1 still has grid penalties just waiting for Jenson Button and Robert Shwartzman to appear on grid whereas F2 just shrugs at the end of a year and forgets who (in this case) Alex Dunne is.
December 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
It's always confused me that while F1 and F2 are nominally the same rules system, F1 still has grid penalties just waiting for Jenson Button and Robert Shwartzman to appear on grid whereas F2 just shrugs at the end of a year and forgets who (in this case) Alex Dunne is.