One of the key factors shaping an F1 driver’s race weekends is the crucial role of race engineers. After spending four years at Alpine, Esteban Ocon has formed a new partnership with Laura Mueller, who joined Haas for their 2025 season. Mueller, who became Formula 1’s first female race engineer earlier this year, symbolizes the sport’s ongoing efforts to embrace greater diversity and inclusion.
In their debut season working together, Ocon and Mueller have already made history. “We’re definitely getting faster,” Ocon told crash.net during an exclusive interview at Silverstone. “Laura is incredibly dedicated, and I work closely with her to ensure she’s fully optimized throughout the weekend.” Ocon highlighted how Mueller leads a strong team on his garage side, including young performance engineer Sacha Fouquet and mapping engineer Dawkins. He praised their ability to seize every opportunity during races and translate that into strong performance.
Mueller’s focused and hardworking approach makes her a perfect fit for Ocon. He shared, “She never counts the hours and pays attention to details, just like me. I sometimes double-check small things not because I don’t trust the team, but to understand the reasoning behind decisions.” They maintain an open, honest communication where constructive feedback flows both ways, emphasizing teamwork and mutual support. Ocon also noted the importance of staying healthy and energized throughout the long season, pointing out the care they take with things like vitamins during tough weekends.
Adapting to a new team, Ocon has quickly settled into the Haas environment and is confident about the progress. “It feels good here,” he said. “We’re constantly learning about the car and working on the details each weekend. The team is focused purely on racing without unnecessary politics.” This positive atmosphere is something Ocon values deeply.
Ocon has been adjusting to the Haas VF-25 Challenger, and recent upgrades have helped address some initial challenges he faced. “I worked hard to identify the issues, and with the latest update, I’m hopeful it will push our development in the right direction,” he explained. Despite the usual difficulties of switching teams and cars, Ocon currently holds 10th place in the championship, contributing most of Haas’s points so far this season.
He acknowledges the steep learning curve when he joined Haas but feels the team has responded well to his feedback. “The car wasn’t developed around me initially, so I’m still finding some areas that need improvement. But we have a package aimed at fixing balance issues, and the team is very responsive.” Transitioning to the Ferrari power unit—after previously using Mercedes and Renault engines—was another adjustment. Nevertheless, Ocon sees it as a positive step that has helped him integrate smoothly into the team.
Fan Take: Esteban Ocon’s collaboration with Laura Mueller marks a significant step forward for diversity in F1 engineering, showing how talent and fresh perspectives can improve team performance. Motorsport fans should watch this partnership closely—it not only highlights inclusivity in the sport but could also set a new standard for teamwork and innovation in racing success.
