Haas appoint Muller as F1’s first female race engineer

Haas have restructured their race operations team with a series of changes that include appointing Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in Formula 1.

German Muller will work with new signing Esteban Ocon as one of two new race engineers at the US-based team.

Haas’ new head of strategy will also be a woman – Carine Cridelich has been recruited from Red Bull’s Racing Bulls team and will start work on 1 March.

Race engineer is a key role as the person who works most closely with drivers on the performance, set-up and running of their car. It is their voice that is heard talking to drivers on television broadcasts.

Muller’s opposite number on the car of Ocon’s team-mate, British rookie Oliver Bearman, will be Ronan O’Hare, another internal recruit who was previously a performance engineer.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu said diversity was increasing in F1, but added: “It’s not like I chose Laura because she’s female. We just don’t care – nationality, gender, doesn’t matter.

“What matters is work, how you fit into the team, how you can maximise the performance – and Ronan and Laura I believe happen to be the best choice.”

Komatsu, who became team principal before the 2024 season, said he had wanted to change the race operations team since the early part of last year after spotting weaknesses.

Haas’ changes include appointing a new chief race engineer and sporting director, both common positions the low-budget team did not have filled last season.

The new chief race engineer is Francesco Nenci, who most recently worked at Audi’s Dakar Rally programme, and has F1 experience with Sauber and Toyota. Mark Lowe, previously Haas’ operations team manager, will be sporting director.