The Haas F1 Team is ushering in a new era with the appointment of Laura Mueller as Esteban Ocon’s race engineer for the 2025 Formula 1 season. In a groundbreaking move for the sport, Mueller becomes the first female race engineer in F1 history, taking on the high-pressure role of leading the engineering team and communicating with the driver during races.
The promotion of Mueller from her previous position as a performance engineer at Haas is part of a larger overhaul of the team’s trackside engineering department. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu emphasized that Mueller earned the role through her strong work ethic, determination, and potential, rather than any consideration of gender.
She’s a pretty determined character. And then she’s very hardworking. Her work ethic is really, really good. So she’s going to be Esteban’s race engineer. And in terms of looking at it personality-wise, Esteban is a pretty determined character as well. So that side, I think the driving force, I think that personality matches pretty well.
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team Principal
The significance of Mueller’s appointment cannot be overstated. While the number of women in engineering roles in F1 has been steadily increasing, the position of race engineer has remained a male domain. As the primary point of contact between the driver and the team during a race weekend, the race engineer plays a crucial role in strategy, setup, and driver performance. Mueller’s promotion represents a major step forward for diversity and inclusion in the upper echelons of the sport.
A New Chapter for Haas
Mueller’s appointment comes as part of a broader restructuring at Haas ahead of the 2025 season. With the arrival of new drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, the American squad has opted to promote from within for its race engineering positions. Ronan O’Hare will step up to become Bearman’s race engineer, mirroring Mueller’s assignment to Ocon.
Komatsu explained the decision to elevate Mueller and O’Hare rather than hire from outside:
They have both got good potential and good determination. So we decided to promote internally because that sends a good message for everyone as well, that rather than going for some big names of experience from outside, promote [internally]. Somebody may not have enough experience to start off with, but good potential, good work ethic, good communication — to just support each other and help.
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team Principal
In addition to these internal promotions, Haas has made several key hires to bolster its engineering department. Francesco Nenci, formerly of Audi’s Dakar Rally program, joins as chief race engineer, while Mark Lowe returns to the team as sporting director. Perhaps most intriguing is the signing of Carine Cridelich from rivals Racing Bulls to serve as head of strategy, a position Haas had long been seeking to fill.
Rising Expectations
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a critical one for Haas. After narrowly missing out on sixth place in the 2024 constructors’ championship, the team is looking to build on its improved form and consistency. Komatsu has set the goal of maintaining the level of performance seen in the latter stages of the previous campaign.
We finished P7 last year. In the history of Haas, across the years I don’t think we’ve been competitive across seasons in a similar manner. For me, what was encouraging last year was our competitiveness increased through the season. Then we scored the most points in the last quarter of the year.
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team Principal
With a refreshed driver lineup, restructured engineering department, and bold appointments like that of Laura Mueller, Haas appears poised to take the next step in its development as an F1 team. The American squad’s progress will be one of the key storylines to follow as the 2025 season unfolds.
A Milestone for Women in Motorsport
Laura Mueller’s groundbreaking appointment as race engineer resonates far beyond the confines of the Haas team. It represents a significant milestone in the ongoing push for greater gender diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
While women have made inroads in various engineering, strategic, and management roles within F1 teams in recent years, the position of race engineer has remained a bastion of male dominance. Mueller’s promotion chips away at that glass ceiling, demonstrating that women are equally capable of thriving in the sport’s most high-pressure and demanding roles.
The impact of Mueller’s trailblazing appointment extends to the next generation of female talent in STEM fields. Seeing a woman in such a prominent and influential role within an F1 team sends a powerful message to girls and young women considering careers in engineering, science, and technology. It affirms that there are no limits to what they can achieve with hard work, dedication, and opportunity.
As Laura Mueller takes her place on the Haas pit wall in 2025, she will not only be engineering Esteban Ocon’s car to success but also breaking down barriers and inspiring countless others to follow in her footsteps. Her journey to the top of her profession is a testament to the slowly but surely changing face of Formula 1 and motorsport as a whole.
The 2025 F1 season promises to be a thrilling one, with new talents, fresh faces, and bold experiments up and down the grid. And in Laura Mueller, Haas and the sport have a figure who embodies the progress, potential, and promise of this exciting new era. As the first female race engineer, she carries the hopes and dreams of a generation on her shoulders. The world will be watching as she takes on this historic role and helps lead Haas into the future.
