Red Bull has dominated the field for the past couple of seasons, securing the Driver’s Championship in 2021 and the Drivers and Constructor’s Championship in 2022. However, it is impossible to talk about Red Bull without acknowledging their Principal Strategy Engineer, Hannah Schmitz, who has undoubtedly played a considerable role in the team’s massive success.
Early Life and Education
Schmitz demonstrated an interest in cars and how things worked from a very early age. This quickly turned into a passion for engineering, and Schmitz soon pursued a master’s degree from Cambridge University in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, Schmitz joined Red Bull Racing in 2009 as a student intern.
Schmitz has been incredibly open about developing her confidence and navigating difficulties throughout her career, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field.
Schmitz’s Impact on Redbull Racing
Although Schmitz has been working with Red Bull Racing for over a decade, the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix was the turning point in her career. After a safety car, Schmitz made the call to pit Verstappen for a third time, even though he was already leading the race. But after his third pit stop, Verstappen quickly overtook Hamilton and secured the win. Schmitz was highly celebrated and invited onto the podium to collect the Constructor’s trophy.
“It was an incredibly special moment and the pinnacle of my career,” she stated. “I’d actually just come back to work after having my first child so that was quite a big thing for me, to prove I was still here and could do the job well. It was just an incredible experience.”
This would not be the last time Schmitz would be praised for her quick thinking and ability to work so well under pressure. Schmitz was again celebrated at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix when her pit-stop strategy led to Checo claiming the win and Verstappen securing a place on the podium. Dr. Helmet Marco, former racing driver and head of Red Bull’s Junior Driver’s programme, stated after the race that Red Bull’s win was mainly due to Schmitz.
Schmitz was also the mastermind behind Red Bull’s and Verstappen’s unlikely win at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. Verstappen started the race in 10th place after suffering from a power unit issue in qualifying. Schmitz called for the last-minute switch from hard tyres to soft, and her flawless race strategy helped the dutchman work his way up the grid and take the win.
It is without a doubt that Schmitz has been instrumental to Red Bull’s and Verstappen’s success over the past several seasons. Her exceptional race strategies and calm demeanour have set the standard for other race strategists across the paddock. Schmitz has also inspired women worldwide who wish to get into the sport by showing them, and those who doubt them, that women are smart enough, capable enough, and deserving of a place in this sport.
Learn more about the inspiring women of Motorsport here.