Bastion renames F1 corner for women engineers

Bastion and Engineers Australia will rename a corner at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to recognise two senior female engineers, marking a first for Formula One.

The initiative, titled In Her Corner, will see Turn 6 at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit carry the names of Laura K. Müller and Hannah Schmitz during the March 8 race weekend, aligning with International Women’s Day.

Engineering talent in the spotlight

Laura K. Müller serves as Race Engineer at the TGR Haas F1 Team and is the first female full-time race engineer in Formula One. Hannah Schmitz is Head of Race Strategy at Oracle Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology. Corners on Formula One circuits have traditionally been named after drivers and team figures; this activation shifts the focus to engineering leadership.

The project was originated by Bastion and developed with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation as part of a three-year partnership with Engineers Australia under its Making Life Happen platform. With women representing 13 percent of engineers in Australia, the brief aimed to increase the visibility of engineering as a career path.

Jamie Fletcher, Art Director: "From the moment we started to bring this idea to life, the momentum has kept building. And then having incredible talent like Laura and Hannah come on board has pushed that excitement and motivation up a notch. We are incredibly proud to develop an initiative that puts women engineers at the forefront of a global sport like Formula 1.”

Extending impact beyond the track

Turn 6 will also host the Engineers Australia In Her Corner Grandstand and an Innovation Hub designed to demonstrate the role engineers play in motorsport and create engagement opportunities for students and fans.

Simon Langley, Chief Creative Officer, Bastion: "It is not often you have the opportunity to create something that genuinely shifts culture. In Her Corner is more than a naming rights moment. It is a statement for change. Partnering with Engineers Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to make history at Formula 1 is exactly the kind of impact we believe brands should be making.”

A ticketed launch event will feature a panel discussion with Laura K. Müller, Hannah Schmitz and senior Formula One figures, including Stefano Domenicali, to address representation in motorsport and engineering.

Richard Riboni, General Manager Brand and Marketing, Engineers Australia: "Engineering is one of the most important professions shaping our future, yet too many young women do not see it as a path open to them. In Her Corner puts women engineers in the spotlight at one of the most visible and celebrated engineering arenas in the world. By working with Bastion and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, we are not only celebrating extraordinary talent, we are showing the next generation that they belong in this profession. This initiative reflects our commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce and to leading that change from a position of strength.”

Following its launch in Melbourne, Bastion and Engineers Australia plan to extend the concept internationally, encouraging broader recognition of women in engineering across other races and circuits.

www.engineersaustralia.org.au

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