The Haas Formula 1 team has made significant strides in restructuring its race operations, highlighted by the groundbreaking appointment of Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in F1 history. A German native, Muller joined the Haas team in 2022 and will work alongside new driver Esteban Ocon, one of two newly appointed race engineers.
Haas F1 Team Promotes Gender Diversity with Historic Appointment of Laura Muller
Haas F1 Team Promotes Gender Diversity with Historic Appointment of Laura Muller
Haas F1 makes history by appointing Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in Formula 1, enhancing team diversity and performance.
In addition to Muller, Haas has welcomed Carine Cridelich, who will serve as the head of strategy, marking further advancements in gender diversity within the team. Previously part of Red Bull Racing, Cridelich will officially start her role on March 1. Both appointments reflect the team's commitment to inclusivity, with team principal Ayao Komatsu emphasizing talent and performance as the criteria for selection. He stated, “It’s not like I chose Laura because she’s female. We just don’t care - nationality, gender, doesn’t matter.”
Muller's joining is a pivotal change, as race engineers typically play a critical role in collaborating with drivers on car performance and setup, with their communications often featured in broadcast coverage. She will pair with Ronan O'Hare, who will engineer Oliver Bearman, Ocon's teammate and a rookie British driver.
Komatsu has expressed insights on the necessity for improvement within the race operations team, due to previous weaknesses. Haas is planning to implement a new chief race engineer and sporting director roles, leading to a more robust operational framework. The new chief race engineer, Francesco Nenci, brings valuable experience from Audi’s Dakar Rally program and previous roles at Sauber and Toyota, while Mark Lowe steps up as sporting director.
Reflecting on the previous season, Komatsu noted the competitive potential of the car, hinting at a mismanagement that prevented the team from achieving a better position in the constructors' championship. “We should have finished P6 but didn’t. We left too many points on the table,” he revealed.
Cridelich's addition complements a growing trend of female leaders in strategy roles within the sport, with notable figures like Hannah Schmitz of Red Bull gaining recognition. With the merging of strategic insights and engineering talent, Haas aims for consistent performance improvements within the competitive landscape of F1.
Haas operates with a lean team, specializing in a partnership with Ferrari to optimize efficiency and effectiveness. The current restructuring spotlights a strategic divergence, as Haas is opting not to adopt Ferrari’s latest redesigned front suspension but will stick with the previous year’s design for reliability.
Under Komatsu's direction, Haas aims to leverage its resources effectively to continue to build upon its recent successes while targeting a budget cap that supports competitiveness. The team finished seventh in the standings last year, but with aspirations of achieving greater standings, Komatsu's goals encompass not just surviving but thriving within the relentless world of Formula 1 racing.
Muller's joining is a pivotal change, as race engineers typically play a critical role in collaborating with drivers on car performance and setup, with their communications often featured in broadcast coverage. She will pair with Ronan O'Hare, who will engineer Oliver Bearman, Ocon's teammate and a rookie British driver.
Komatsu has expressed insights on the necessity for improvement within the race operations team, due to previous weaknesses. Haas is planning to implement a new chief race engineer and sporting director roles, leading to a more robust operational framework. The new chief race engineer, Francesco Nenci, brings valuable experience from Audi’s Dakar Rally program and previous roles at Sauber and Toyota, while Mark Lowe steps up as sporting director.
Reflecting on the previous season, Komatsu noted the competitive potential of the car, hinting at a mismanagement that prevented the team from achieving a better position in the constructors' championship. “We should have finished P6 but didn’t. We left too many points on the table,” he revealed.
Cridelich's addition complements a growing trend of female leaders in strategy roles within the sport, with notable figures like Hannah Schmitz of Red Bull gaining recognition. With the merging of strategic insights and engineering talent, Haas aims for consistent performance improvements within the competitive landscape of F1.
Haas operates with a lean team, specializing in a partnership with Ferrari to optimize efficiency and effectiveness. The current restructuring spotlights a strategic divergence, as Haas is opting not to adopt Ferrari’s latest redesigned front suspension but will stick with the previous year’s design for reliability.
Under Komatsu's direction, Haas aims to leverage its resources effectively to continue to build upon its recent successes while targeting a budget cap that supports competitiveness. The team finished seventh in the standings last year, but with aspirations of achieving greater standings, Komatsu's goals encompass not just surviving but thriving within the relentless world of Formula 1 racing.
