The Haas team, for which Esteban Ocon will be driving from this year, has modified its technical structure. The American team has appointed a sports director, Mark Lowe, and named two new race engineers, including a woman, Laura Müller, a first in F1.
Just a year ago, Haas was changing its leadership. Goodbye Günther Steiner and hello Ayao Komatsu to lead the American team. Since then, things have evolved and it will start this new season with some changes.
Firstly, a brand-new pair of drivers to replace Nico Hülkenberg, who has moved to Sauber, and Kevin Magnussen, who has retired from the sport. To drive the single-seaters from Banbury, Haas’s European headquarters, will be Oliver Bearman, a young driver from the Ferrari Academy, and Esteban Ocon, who left Alpine even before the end of last season.
To support them, the team has promoted two former performance engineers to the positions of race engineers. The young Brit will have Ronan O’Hare in his corner, and the Frenchman will have Laura Müller, who previously worked for Hülkenberg.
Carine Cridelich appointed as Chief Strategist
The appointment of a woman to this position is a first in the sport, even though several women have been in charge of strategy for years, such as Ruth Buscombe at Sauber, Hanna Schmitz at Red Bull, or… Carine Cridelich, who joins Haas from Racing Bulls.
It’s worth noting the creation of a sports director position entrusted to Mark Lowe and the appointment of Francesco Nenci as chief race engineer, a position left vacant since Komatsu’s promotion.
