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Engineers, strategists, media personnel, managers - the list is endless. In a male-dominated field, here are a few Women in Motorsports who have been a pinnacle part of the industry.
Brehanna Daniels - NASCAR Tire Changer/Pit Crew member
From basketball to NASCAR, Brehanna Daniels became the first Black woman to be part of a NASCAR pit crew. During her time at Norfolk State University as a student athlete, she was one of ten individuals who were chosen for NASCAR’s ‘Drive for Diversity’ program. The Pit Crew Development Program trains and coaches high-level athletes to become skilled pit crew members.
In June 2017, NASCAR Truck and Xfinity raced the KDI Office Technology 200 in Delaware, United States. That weekend marked Daniels becoming the first Black woman to change tires in NASCAR. She continued to work her way up to the NASCAR Cup Series as they raced in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona, and then the following year, made history once again as part of the first female tire changing duo for the Daytona 500, alongside Breanna O’Learly.
Today, Daniels continues working as part of pit crews in NASCAR series, putting at the forefront her skills and preciseness every race weekend.
Krystol Smith - Specialist, Social Media and Content, Arrow McLaren IndyCar
Switching from the entertainment industry to motorsports, by capturing every moment during a race weekend, Krystol Smith captivates the team’s audiences, making them feel as if they are present. From Instagram to TikTok and beyond, Smith and her team put together content during races, tying in fans, the drivers, and the team in a fun and engaging way.
Smith has worked on growing the team’s presence internally and externally, being a face for women in motorsports and women of colour. In 2024, the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team was named the winner of The Webby Awards - People’s Voice Winner in the Sports Social category.
On the whole, the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Instagram and TikTok pages have over 200,000 followers.
Laura Müller - first female Race Engineer in F1
As part of the MoneyGram Haas Formula One team, Laura Müller was promoted from performance engineer to race engineer for the 2025 season. Müller is the first female race engineer in Formula One, one of the top ranks in a team. As part of her role as race engineer, Müller communicates with driver Esteban Ocon during track sessions, making sure that the engineering, mechanics, strategy, and other moving parts all come together to give the driver and the team their best performance.
Laura Winter - Presenter, F1 TV
A broadcaster for various sports, including tennis, cycling, and rugby, to name a few, Laura Winter stands out as a presenter on F1TV. Winter made her show debut in 2019 during the Belgian Grand Prix and, as part of the presenter team, she says her role is to “steer the ship” and “keep the conversation going.”
Before, during, and after the race, Winter discusses the ongoing events within Formula One. Having intricately jotted down notes as part of her preparation, she engages drivers and other members of the Formula One community with what the fans should know about the current and upcoming race weekends.
Susie Wolff - Managing Director, F1 Academy
With racing experience flowing through her veins, Susie Wolff stands as the current Managing Director for the F1 Academy. Wolff founded ‘Dare to be Different’ in 2016, a non-profit organization, which has increased female participation in motorsports through events and the community they have built. In addition to that and several other accomplishments, having been able to experience what it is like behind the wheel of a Formula One car, Wolff works towards building a more inclusive arena for women in the field as younger and new talent enter the F1 Academy. The F1 Academy, backed by Formula One teams and other sponsors like Charlotte Tilbury, is giving the next generation of women opportunities to reach their potential and higher levels in racing.
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