Why Haas sees Laura Muller as a perfect F1 race engineer for Ocon

It was the primary title that stood out on the presentation slide displayed on the wall in one of many assembly rooms in Haas’ UK manufacturing unit in Banbury.

Alongside the appointments of Ronan O’Hare as Oliver Bearman’s race engineer, plus the return of Mark Lowe as sporting director, Laura Muller’s title was confirmed as Esteban Ocon’s race engineer.

The German, a self-confessed Michael Schumacher fan who studied mechanical engineering in Munich, has turn into F1’s first feminine race engineer in a transfer that reveals F1 is altering, albeit slowly, to turning into extra inclusive.

The importance of her promotion is one thing that Haas workforce principal, Ayao Komatsu, is conscious about whereas insisting she’s there on advantage, not merely due to her gender.

Komatsu has additionally signed race strategist Carine Cridelich, who will be a part of the workforce on 1 March from her present put up at RB, each highlighting the rising acceptance – and success – of ladies in important technical positions.

Muller’s promotion particularly looks like a seminal second for feminine engineers and sends a loud message of what’s potential to youthful generations.

Komatsu mentioned: “Laura Mueller and Ronan O’Hare, they’ve each been efficiency engineers. Ronan has received extra expertise than Laura as a result of he was at Williams earlier than, whereas for Laura, Haas is the primary F1 workforce she’s labored for.

“However they’ve each received good potential and good dedication. So, we determined to advertise internally as a result of that sends a superb message for everybody as effectively. “Somewhat than go for some massive names with expertise from the surface, promote anyone [who] might not have sufficient expertise to begin off with, let’s say, however has potential with good work ethic, good communication.”

Motorsport.com comes again to Komatsu to ask about Muller’s promotion and what persona traits she’s going to deliver to the workforce, given the landmark appointment, and the Haas boss says she is the proper match for driving on and matching Ocon’s ambition and dedication.

He mentioned: “She’s a decided character after which she’s very hard-working. She has an excellent work ethic.

“By way of trying on the persona, Esteban is a fairly decided character as effectively. So from that facet, I believe they are going to be a driving drive and their personalities match.

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

“When she sees an issue, she digs deep, and he or she does not cease on the first reply.

“You recognize, some individuals after they discover the primary reply they cease digging and so they say ‘oh, nice, I discovered the answer’ and so they transfer on. However no, she is aware of that there are new inquiries to reply.

“So her dedication is the one factor that impresses me probably the most. She’s nonetheless fairly younger but she’s nonetheless fairly skilled however wants some steerage and help, however together with her work ethic I believe she will be able to progress fairly rapidly.”

Muller joined Haas in 2022 and beforehand labored within the workforce’s simulator earlier than progressing to the position of efficiency engineer.

Komatsu says the underlying purpose for any appointment within the workforce is how a person “suits into the workforce and maximises the efficiency, and Laura is the proper selection”.

He added: “Laura got here in to do the simulator job. After which a few of the race occasions. Then we had been rotating efficiency engineers for the final couple of years.

“On the subject of having a race engineer, she expressed her curiosity [in the job]. And when it comes to her communication on the radio, she may be very clear, very calm. 

“After I knew Esteban was coming – I knew in addition to the technical facet, the persona facet is essential, particularly in the event you’re a race engineer. So I might see the Laura/Esteban mixture that might work rather well.”

Ocon and Muller, together with Bearman and O’Hare, have began to construct their relationships because the workforce embraces its new driver and race engineer line-up.

That they had their first run in the course of the Testing of Earlier Automotive programme final week in Jerez, and subsequent week will all attend the seat-fitting in Italy.