The inaugural In Her Corner event made a remarkable debut at Albert Park, bringing together the influential women shaping the future of motorsport both on and off the track.
Held in celebration of International Women’s Day, the event welcomed global leaders from Formula 1 across engineering, technology, and business. The inspiring afternoon of keynote conversations and panel discussions served as a high-octane opening for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026, while highlighting the accelerating impact of women across the modern motorsport landscape.
Throughout the afternoon, speakers explored the intersection of innovation and leadership, focusing on resilience under pressure and the evolving role women play in STEM, technology, and commercial operations.
Engineering the Future: Laura Mueller & Ruth Buscombe
The program was hosted by renowned Formula 1 strategy engineer Ruth Buscombe, who guided engaging discussions featuring a lineup of trailblazing panelists:
- Laura Mueller: Race Engineer, Haas F1 Team
- Jessica Hawkins: Head of the F1 Academy and Ambassador for Aston Martin F1 Team
- Aiva Anagnostiadis: F1 Academy Driver
- Joanne Ciconte: F1 Academy Driver
- Molly Taylor: Rally Driver and World Champion
The presence of the F1 Academy drivers underscored a pivotal shift in the sport’s ecosystem, moving from sporadic participation to a dedicated, data-backed pathway for female talent in elite racing.
A Historic Milestone: The Naming of Turn 6
The event’s most significant moment addressed a historic change to the physical fabric of the Albert Park Circuit. In a tribute to technical excellence, Turn 6 has been officially named in honour of pioneering engineers Hannah Schmitz and Laura Mueller.
This marks the first time in the history of Formula 1 that a corner has been named in recognition of women. The gesture serves as a permanent reminder of the technical contributions women make to the sport’s most critical moments—where strategy and data meet the asphalt.
Reflecting on the milestone, Buscombe shared a powerful closing thought: “Until this race weekend, we never had a Formula 1 corner named in honour of any women. And now, for the rest of time, in Formula 1, we will. I am sure it will be the first of many.”
Diversity at the Helm
The event also featured a keynote discussion with Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1. Domenicali reinforced the sport’s commitment to diversity, noting that talent and ambition are the primary drivers for shaping the future of F1 as it continues to evolve into a more inclusive global platform.
Presented by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation in partnership with Engineers Australia and Monash University, and supported by MECCA MAX and Thrive PR & Communications, In Her Corner has firmly established itself as a new signature event on the Australian Grand Prix calendar. It is a platform that does more than celebrate progress—it actively inspires the next generation of women to pursue careers in the high-pressure, high-tech world of motorsport.
A Tribute & Milestone
