Historic Milestone: First Women to Have Formula 1 Corner Named After Them
Historic Milestone: First Women to Have Formula 1 Corner Named After Them
To celebrate International Women's Day, the Australian Grand Prix has honored two pioneering women in Formula 1 by naming Turn 6 after them. Laura Mueller, the first full-time female race engineer in F1 history with Haas, and Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull's Head of Race Strategy, will have this corner dedicated to their achievements at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix.
This recognition is part of the 'In Her Corner' initiative, a collaboration between Engineers Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. The program aims to inspire the next generation of female engineers by highlighting women's contributions to motorsport and STEM fields.
Mueller joined Haas as Esteban Ocon's race engineer at the start of the 2025 season, making history as the first woman in this role. Ocon has praised her, calling her 'awesome to work with' and noting her 'very impressive' trajectory.
Schmitz, with her extensive experience at Red Bull, has been instrumental in the team's successes during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Her strategic decisions have been pivotal in securing victories and podium finishes, including key moments in the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix where Red Bull battled for the Drivers' Championship.
Mueller expressed her gratitude in a statement: “The ‘In Her Corner’ initiative promotes the importance of ‘if you can see it, you can be it,’ so the more we can all do to shine a light on the overall achievement of women in engineering is a great thing. To be a part of this acknowledgement so early on in my Formula 1 career is an honour, and I hope it motivates girls and young adults to pursue a career in STEM. It’s important to recognise women’s accomplishments in motorsport so far, and it’s great to be alongside Hannah for this.”
Schmitz shared her passion for the sport: “I absolutely love my job and if you have the privilege of that choice also then make sure it’s the right role for you. I was always curious about how things work and loved cars. At school I had some amazing support and encouragement from teachers that opened my eyes to the world of engineering, they were my inspiration. For me it has been an absolute honour to represent the team on the podium. In Qatar last season, it was incredible to be in the fight for the Drivers’ Championship, witnessing the way everyone came together as a team was something very special to be a part of.”
Katherine Richards, Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia, emphasized the significance of the event: “Engineers Australia is proud to partner with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to launch In Her Corner and name a turn on one of the world’s most iconic circuits after two women currently shaping Formula 1. In Her Corner celebrates the talent, leadership and drive of two engineers who are redefining what’s possible, not just in Formula 1, but across engineering, technology and business.”
This dedication continues the tradition of naming corners after influential figures in motorsport, marking a step forward in promoting gender diversity in the sport.