Laura Mueller and Hannah Schmitz become first women to have corner named after them at Australian Grand Prix

Laura Mueller and Hannah Schmitz are set to become the first women to have an F1 circuit corner named after them, with Turn 6 to be dedicated to them at the Australian Grand Prix in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Many circuits hold a longstanding tradition of naming corners after influential people in the world of motorsport, and Mueller – Race Engineer to Esteban Ocon at Haas – and Schmitz – Head of Race Strategy at Red Bull – are the next to receive this honour.

It comes amid the In Her Corner initiative, which is part of a partnership between Engineers Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation with the aim of inspiring the next generation of engineers.

Mueller became the first full-time female race engineer in F1 history when she took on the role at the start of the 2025 season, with Ocon going on to state that she is “awesome to work with” and that her trajectory has been “very impressive”.

Schmitz has worked with various drivers during her extensive time in Formula 1 with Red Bull, acting as a key figure in the squad’s success across the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Her strategy calls have been credited as crucial in many of the team’s victories and podiums.

Mueller commented: “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 added: “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, Engineers Australia Chief Engineer, also said: “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.”