Albert Park's Turn 6 Named After F1's Pioneering Women Engineers

In a landmark move for diversity in motorsport, Turn 6 at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit will be named after two pioneering women in Formula 1 engineering: Haas's Laura Mueller and Red Bull's Hannah Schmitz. The 'In Her Corner' initiative, a partnership between Engineers Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, honors their achievements and aims to inspire future generations in STEM. The naming coincides with a special International Women's Day event at the circuit, featuring a panel discussion with key figures from across the sport.

Why it matters:

This represents a significant, visible step in recognizing the crucial contributions of women in the highly technical and traditionally male-dominated world of Formula 1. By permanently etching their names onto the circuit map, the initiative provides powerful role models, reinforcing the message that "if you can see it, you can be it" for young girls considering careers in engineering and motorsport. It aligns the sport's progressive values with a major global event, International Women's Day, during a Grand Prix weekend.

The Details:

• The Honorees: Laura Mueller made history as the first full-time female race engineer in F1, currently working with Esteban Ocon at Haas. Hannah Schmitz is the highly respected Head of Race Strategy at Oracle Red Bull Racing, a pivotal figure in the team's success.
• The Event: On Thursday, March 5, an exclusive 'In Her Corner' event will be hosted by former Sauber strategist and F1 presenter Ruth Buscombe. The panel will include Mueller, Schmitz, Aston Martin's Jess Hawkins, Australian F1 Academy drivers, rally star Molly Taylor, and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
• In Their Words: Mueller called the acknowledgment "an honour" and expressed hope it motivates young people to pursue STEM. Schmitz highlighted the importance of teacher support and described representing her team on the podium as an "absolute honour."

What's next:

The symbolic naming creates a lasting legacy at Albert Park, turning a piece of the circuit into a monument to diversity and achievement.

• The 2026 Australian Grand Prix race day falls directly on International Women's Day (March 8), offering a perfect platform to build on this initiative's momentum.
• The focus now shifts to whether this act of recognition translates into sustained efforts to attract, retain, and promote more women in all technical roles within F1 and engineering at large, ensuring these corner names are just the beginning of a larger story.