Red Bull strategist Schmitz: 'The best people are not always men'

In Formula 1, few women hold key positions. None of the drivers are women, none of the team bosses are women. With Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull Racing does have a woman as head of strategy. She is widely praised for her knowledge, and has helped Max Verstappen take a Grand Prix victory on several occasions.

Many F1 fans probably remember the race in Hungary, in 2022. Just before the start, Schmitz decided that Verstappen should start with soft tyre and not, as previously agreed, the hard tyre. Later, the Dutchman switched to mediums. Partly thanks to this strategy, Verstappen managed to work his way from spot 10 on the grid to the lead of the race, on his way to victory

Not looking at gender

As a woman, Schmitz is a minority in the Formula 1 paddock, at a time when diversity is an important issue. Schmitz herself believes that gender should not be looked at, but rather a person's qualities, she told The Athletic. "I think the point is yes, we do want the best people for the job, and that’s not always a man. So you need to open up the opportunities so that you get to meet those people that will be the best people for the job."

According to Schmitz, above all, everyone has to keep believing in being able to advance to your dream job. "Don’t be deterred just because there aren’t many women. That’s changed all the time, and to be honest, it doesn’t really matter," concludes the esteemed force at Red Bull.