Haas F1 Team has made a historic move by appointing Laura Mueller as the first female race engineer in Formula One.
The strategic decision is part of a broader overhaul of the race operations team, aiming to improve last season’s seventh-place finish in the constructors’ championship. Mueller, who has stepped up from her previous role as a performance engineer, will now collaborate closely with Haas’s new driver, Esteban Ocon.
In her pivotal role, Mueller will be the primary liaison between Ocon and the rest of the team during races, managing the car’s setup and in-race strategy via radio communications. Ayao Komatsu, Haas’s team principal, emphasized her suitability for the role, praising her determination and strong work ethic. “Laura was simply the best candidate for the job,” Komatsu stated, dismissing any notion that her appointment was influenced by gender. “We focus on performance and team integration, not nationality or gender,” he added.
Additionally, Haas will welcome Carine Cridelich as head of strategy, sourced from Red Bull’s Racing Bulls team. She is set to join the team in March, concluding a lengthy search for a new strategic leader.
The team has also recruited Francesco Nenci from Audi’s Dakar Rally project as the new chief engineer, and Mark Lowe has stepped in as sporting director. These changes significantly modify Haas’s trackside team, which Komatsu described as last year’s “weakest areas.”
These organizational shifts occur as the team prepares for the upcoming season. Pre-season testing is scheduled in Bahrain from February 26 to 28. The season will officially kick off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, where Haas aims to demonstrate the efficacy of its revamped operations.
