Red Bull Racing Archives - The Formula is Female

Meet Hannah Schmitz: The Mastermind Behind Red Bull’s Race Strategy

January 27, 2023 No Comments

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.

Hannah Schmitz, Race Strategy Engineer for Red Bull Racing F1 Team — Image Credit: Red Bull

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.

“As a strategist, you have to tell a lot of people what to do and they’ve got to listen to you, so it’s building up that trust and I think as a woman unfortunately that was harder, but now I have that respect and I hope other young women who want to get into the sport will see that you can do it, can embrace it, and we’ll see more diversity.”

Hannah Schmitz, Pierre Gasly, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton on the Podium at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix — Image Credit: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

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.

Image Credit: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

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.

Britta Roeske’s Inspirational Career in F1

December 28, 2022 No Comments

The end of the 2022 season had us saying farewell to many household names in F1, including 4-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. However, Vettel’s departure from F1 comes with the departure of his long-term PR manager Britta Roeske. Roeske is often referred to as the “woman behind Sebastian Vettel,” having worked alongside him for over a decade. Yet she is so much more than that. Britta Roeske’s inspirational career and success have made her an important figure in the world of Motorsport, especially for women and young girls. It wouldn’t feel right to end the year (and season) without acknowledging all of Roeske’s accomplishments. She has, even perhaps unknowingly, helped change the future of F1 for women and young girls everywhere.

Roeske’s Beginning in F1

Roeske, originally from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, began her career in F1 at the 2004 Nurburgring GP after being introduced to Renault team principal at the time, Flavio Briatore. With a background in economics, modern languages, and journalism, Roeske was offered a position with the Renault team as a trainee in the communications department.

The Move to Red Bull Racing

In 2005, Roeske made the move from Renault to Red Bull Racing. But it wasn’t until 2010 that Roeske began working closely with a young Sebastian Vettel. Roeske began managing Vettel’s appearances throughout race weekends, including going through any questions the journalists intended to ask the young driver. Commentators and sponsors would go directly to Roeske to ask about Vettel’s availability for interviews and special appearances.

Vettel’s time at Red Bull Racing came with its fair share of controversies, such as his infamous crash with his teammate Mark Webber in 2010 and his failure to obey team orders in 2013, which led him to overtake Webber and win the Malaysian GP. Roeske was there for Vettel through it all, expertly navigating and managing the media throughout one of the most challenging times of the driver’s career.

A New Chapter at Ferrari and Aston Martin

In 2015, Vettel announced his move to Ferrari. This left fans wondering what would happen to the dynamic duo and if Roeske would make the move to Ferrari. It’s safe to say everyone was pleased when Roeske showed up to the Australian GP rocking red gear. As a result, Roeske officially became the only PR manager at the track to be employed by a driver rather than a team. At Ferrari, Roeske took on the extra role of managing Vettel’s entire brand image. And even through one of the darkest moments of Vettel’s career, she never left his side.

In 2020, Vettel joined the Aston Martin F1 team, and it was no surprise that he was bringing Roeske along with him. “If I continue, she continues,” the four-time world champion stated. This was a true testament to how essential Roeske was to Vettel’s success.

Throughout her time in F1, Roeske has helped Vettel navigate the highs and lows of his career, all while managing his brand identity away from social media (which is as difficult as it is impressive). But she has also done so much more than that. She has inspired women and girls everywhere, setting an extraordinary example and proving that anything is possible. She has helped show that women deserve a spot on the grid, not to reach any quota, but rather because women have the skills and talent to be there. Watching her incredibly successful career over the past several years has been an honour, and while her exit from F1 saddens me and many others, I applaud everything she has accomplished. I am confident her work will continue to inspire young women everywhere for generations to come.