As part of a shake-up of their race operations team, Haas has appointed Laura Mueller. She is the Formula One’s first female race engineer. The German will collaborate with newly hired driver Esteban Ocon, while another woman, Carine Cridelich from Red Bull’s Racing Bulls outfit. They will join as head of strategy. Haas, based in the United States, is looking to capitalise on last season’s seventh-place position in the constructors’ championship.
A fresh driver lineup that includes Ocon and Oliver Bearman. Mueller has been promoted from the position of performance engineer. A race engineer works closely with the driver on the setup and operation of their car. Serves as the primary interface between a driver and the team on the track via radio communications. Haas Team Principle Ayao Komatsu stated that Mueller was the greatest contender for the role.
Cridelich will join Haas in March, bringing an end to Komatsu’s “for a long, long time” hunt for a head of strategy. Francesco Nenci formerly led the performance team on Audi’s Dakar Rally project. And is the new head engineer, with Mark Lowe serving as sporting director. Komatsu stated that changes to the trackside personnel were a “huge change.” But that it was one of the “weakest areas last year”.
First Woman Race Engineer in F1
Andrea de Zordo, a former Ferrari engineer, is the technical director. While Tom Coupland, who was seconded by Ferrari in 2021, is the lead designer. Following the exits of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, Ocon, and Bearman will establish a new alliance. Bearman has raced three times and impressed on his Ferrari debut last season, finishing sixth in Saudi Arabia as a stand-in for appendicitis-stricken Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
Mr. Komatsu stated that the team would strive for constant progress, with drivers working together to push each other and boost overall performance. Pre-season testing will take place in Bahrain from February 26 to 28, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 16. Komatsu said, “She’s a pretty determined character. And then she’s very hard-working. Her work ethic is good.”
