Formula 1, and especially the Haas team, have achieved an iconic milestone in the world of motorsport. For the 2025 F1 season, Laura Mueller will become the F1 First Female Engineer. It’s absurd that it has taken so long for this achievement to occur, given the numerous successful women who have contributed behind the scenes to every Formula 1 team.
Mueller will be the engineer for one of Haas’s two new F1 drivers, Esteban Ocon. The Mueller-Ocon duo will aim to continue the slow but steady progress the American team has made in recent years. Let’s not forget that Haas finished 7th in the Formula 1 standings last season
Laura Mueller
Who is Laura Mueller? Mueller, 33 years old, joined the American team in 2022. Her main responsibility was focused on the simulator department, but her intelligence, ambition, and work ethic led the German to a swift rise, culminating in her becoming the F1 First Female Engineer. Laura holds a degree from the Technical University of Munich and has extensive experience in endurance racing.
Women in F1
Only five women in history have managed to compete in races in Formula 1’s top category. They are:
- Maria Teresa de Filippis: The first woman to compete, specifically in the Belgian GP of 1958.
- Lella Lombardi: Registered 17 entries, with 12 starts, between 1974 and 1976. She remains the only woman to score points.
- Divina Galica: Made her debut at the British GP of 1976, coinciding with Lombardi. This was the only GP where two women competed.
- Desiré Wilson: The South African was the first woman to receive a super license.
- Giovanna Amati: The last woman to compete in the top category.
Currently, perhaps the most well-known case is that of Hannah Smith, head of strategy at Red Bull, to whom the Austrian team owes much of its success. Her tactical decision-making in the race strategy that secured Verstappen’s victory at the 2022 Monaco GP cemented her as a heavyweight in the sport.
In addition to Mueller, Haas announced the arrival of Carine Cridelich as the team’s future head of strategy starting in March. Cridelich will manage the race strategy for both F1 drivers.
Another notable milestone was Bianca Bustamante, who became the first woman to join McLaren as a reserve driver.
The last time a woman participated as a driver in F1 was in 1992.
F1 Academy
One of the most ambitious initiatives was the creation of the F1 Academy in 2023, where the organization provided a platform for women to gain visibility on the global stage. Some of the current F1 grid teams have their own Academy teams, while others sponsor individual teams.
The F1 Academy features six teams, 21 drivers, and seven races across the globe. It is led by Susie Wolff, a well-known figure in the motorsport world, having raced in various categories.
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