Australian Grand Prix bosses announce new name ahead of F1 season | F1 | Sport
One corner on the Albert Park Circuit will be renamed for the upcoming Formula 1 season opener, it has been confirmed. Organisers of the Australian Grand Prix have taken the opportunity to pay tribute to “two of F1’s most influential engineers” to celebrate International Women’s Day, which falls on the same day as the Melbourne race on Sunday, March 8.
As part of the new ‘In Her Corner’ initiative, the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will drive past a corner bearing the names of two of the most prominent female talents in the F1 paddock when they race in Australia next month. It has been confirmed that turn six, the first part of a chicane, will be dedicated to Red Bull strategy chief Hannah Schmitz and Haas race engineer Laura Mueller.
Katherine Richards, chief engineer at Engineers Australia, hailed the move and expressed her delight at two superb female talents being showcased in this way. She said: “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.”
Schmitz, whose strategy calls from the pit wall have been key to several Verstappen victories in recent years, said it “has been an absolute honour” to be recognised for her work, after also representing Red Bull on the podium in Qatar last year.
She 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.”
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Mueller became the first female race engineer in F1 when she was appointed to work alongside Esteban Ocon last year. She said: “The In Her Corner initiative promoted 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.”
An event is set to be held at the Albert Park Circuit on Thursday, March 5, to celebrate the dedication of the corner. Schmitz and Mueller will be joined on a panel of speakers by Aston Martin driver ambassador Jessica Hawkins and F1 Academy racers Aiva Anagnostiadis and Joanne Ciconte, with the event to be hosted by F1 TV pundit and former Ferrari and Sauber strategist Ruth Buscombe.
