The principle of Formula 1 is simple: It’s about being first at the end of the last lap. Max Verstappen voluntarily gave up the lead on lap 57 at his home race in Zandvoort. The 24-year-old Red Bull driver drove into the pits, switched to soft tires and came back onto the track in third place behind the two powerful Mercedes. A risky maneuver – but it paid off in the end thanks to the fresher and therefore faster rubber. The mastermind behind the decision is Hannah Schmitz. It’s Verstappen’s secret weapon.
At the Monaco Grand Prix in May, the reputation of the chief strategist at Red Bull became clear. “A huge compliment to our Hannah,” said motorsport boss Helmut Marko to several TV cameras. Previously, the 37-year-old Brit Sergio Pérez had skilfully selected tires to take first place and Max Verstappen to third place – and tricked the big competitor Ferrari.
In order to keep calm during the hectic hustle and bustle at the command post during the race, Schmitz uses a relaxation exercise. No matter how quickly the decision about the time of a pit stop or the choice of tires has to be made, it remains routine: Schmitz lays her palms flat on the shelf in front of her. “Then you can concentrate better,” she reveals. Then she analyzes the situation and decides at lightning speed – and is almost always right.
Schmitz relies not only on her gut feeling, but also on her intensive preparation. Strategy planning starts three weeks before the race. Schmitz, who takes her German husband’s last name, and her team use data from the past three years. In addition, car measurements from the current season are used. “We can use billions of pieces of data for almost any scenario and thus formulate our plan,” explains Schmitz.
In addition to her, Verstappen and Pérez as well as those responsible for team boss Christian Horner are also included in the strategy. “There are always discussions, but in the end we decide,” Schmitz reveals, meaning herself and her equal colleague Will Courtenay, with whom she takes turns on site assignments. Only Horner can veto them. “But he never actually does that,” says Schmitz. Verstappen, who according to the Briton is not too detail-oriented and relies a lot on his feelings, and Pérez, who requests more facts than the Dutchman, usually agree with the strategy.
What drives Schmitz: “I don’t get the adrenaline rush that comes with an important decision anywhere else. The fact that I can influence the outcome of a race makes it incredibly interesting.” It is a coincidence that she is able to do this. In 2009, after studying mechanical engineering at Cambridge University, she joined Red Bull as an intern. Schmitz: “I have had a passion for cars since I was a child. Red Bull has become a second family – even if I didn’t necessarily plan it.”
And the chapter could have ended long ago. Other teams contacted Schmitz several times to free them. Without success. Schmitz: “That’s flattering, of course, but I feel very comfortable here.” Also because the racing team is willing to make courageous decisions compared to other teams, such as Ferrari. And thanks to Schmitz often right.
At the race in Monza this Sunday (3 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker), Verstappen will be penalized five starting places. The engine had to be changed in his racing car. Because the fifth in total will be used this season, he had to accept the penalty.
However, teams like his also chose the Italian Grand Prix to install new parts because it is easy to overtake on the high-speed circuit with a full-throttle percentage of over 75 percent – especially with a car like that of Verstappen, which is the clear leader in the classification.
So he always has a chance of winning. His lead over Lecerlc and Perez in the overall standings is 109 points. Mathematically, depending on the outcome of the Italian race, Verstappen could then secure his second title in a row in Singapore at the beginning of October.
The text was written for the sports competence center (WELT, “Sport Bild”, “Bild”) and first published in “Sport Bild”.