German Laura Muller becomes the first female race engineer in Formula 1, alongside new team hires, as Haas reshapes its operations for the 2025 season

Haas F1 has made a historic move, appointing Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in Formula 1. Muller, who joined the team in 2022, will now work alongside Esteban Ocon as one of two new race engineers. The move is part of a broader restructuring of Haas’ race operations team, which also sees Carine Cridelich, previously from Red Bull Racing, appointed as head of strategy.

Muller’s role as a race engineer is pivotal, as she will be working closely with drivers to fine-tune car performance, set-up, and strategy. Her counterpart for Ocon’s teammate, Oliver Bearman, will be Ronan O’Hare, who transitions from performance engineer to race engineer.

Team Principal Ayao Komatsu emphasized that these appointments were based on merit, rather than gender or nationality. “What matters is work, how you fit into the team, how you can maximize the performance,” said Komatsu.

The reshuffle also includes the recruitment of Francesco Nenci as the new chief race engineer and Mark Lowe as the sporting director. These moves come after Komatsu identified weaknesses in the trackside operations, particularly after Haas’ car, which was one of the fifth-fastest by the end of the season, failed to secure a higher constructors’ championship position.

“We should have finished P6, but we didn’t,” Komatsu explained. “We left too many points on the table from the trackside operation, so I needed a step-up.”

Haas has also focused on efficiency, with a lean in-house operation supported by their partnership with Ferrari. The team’s headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, operates in conjunction with Ferrari’s design and wind tunnel facilities. This unique structure, along with the 2025 season’s increased budget, is part of Komatsu’s plan to ensure Haas remains competitive in F1.

“We’re punching above our weight,” Komatsu said, noting the team’s ability to consistently outperform larger teams with limited resources. He also acknowledged the team’s ambition to remain competitive across seasons, highlighting the challenge posed by rivals like Williams.