Australian GP circuit corner to undergo name change in F1 first

Senior F1 engineers Hannah Schmitz and Laura Mueller will be celebrated at the Australian Grand Prix later next month by having a corner named after them.

Schmitz currently works as chief strategy engineer at Red Bull and has played a crucial role in many of Max Verstappen's race wins in recent years.

Mueller, meanwhile, became the first full-time female race engineer in 2025, working with Haas' Esteban Ocon.

The duo will have Turn 6 at Albert Park named after them this year as part of the 'In Her Corner' initiative, a partnership between Engineers Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

It is the first time that an F1 track will have a corner named after a woman.

The Australian Grand Prix will kick off the new season on March 8, which also marks International Women's Day.

“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,” Mueller said.

“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.”