Laura Müller becomes F1’s first female racing engineer
In 2025, Laura Müller will make history by becoming the first female racing engineer. This will be alongside Esteban Ocon at Haas, an appointment that sets an example in the premier class.
In a context where inclusion and gender equality are becoming central, both in society and in top-level sports, the appointment of a woman at the helm of operations for one of the 20 F1 teams on the grid will mark a historic turning point next year.
For the first time, a woman will occupy the crucial position of track engineer, a key role for driver performance. Laura Müller will be the pioneer, supporting Esteban Ocon from the Haas team’s pit wall. Esteban Ocon announced it on Canal +, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after the announcement of his non-participation with Alpine, that he was eager to work with his new race engineer during post-season testing.
An exemplary journey
The German engineer already has solid experience in motorsport. Before taking up this position, she made her debut in the DTM championship. Starting next season, it will be her voice that the French driver hears on the radio, providing him with strategic adjustments, technical analyses, and real-time solutions to unforeseen events during the race.
Laura Müller denounced in 2023, to the German media, the Frankfurter Allgemeine, certain abusive behaviors of which she might have been a victim. She explained that when women are asked what the worst thing they have experienced in motorsport is, they never tell the truth. Because no one wants to hear the truth.
So far, women have mainly stood out in the strategic field, as shown by the careers of Hannah Schmitz at Red Bull or Ruth Buscombe, who has held this role in several teams. Margarita Torres Díez is an engine engineer at Mercedes HPP, Bernie Collins was a strategist at McLaren then Aston Martin before becoming a consultant for Sky Sports F1, and Julie Coulter is a project leader for engine and electrical systems at McLaren.
More broadly, initiatives like the FIA’s Girls on Track program encourage young women to pursue technical careers, aiming to promote diversity. On the driving side, there is the F1 Academy championship, a springboard while waiting for real progress among male drivers. Meanwhile, other programs like the Iron Dames, in endurance racing, also highlight them. There is no doubt that mentalities are changing.
