Red Bull principal strategy engineer Hannah Schmitz has opened up about how the strategists work as a team with the two red bull drivers.
A big reason for Red Bull’s success in 2022 is pit wall strategists. The team has come up with the right strategies and hasn’t missed a moment and held their nerves.
The most evident results are the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Monaco Grand Prix. At both the races, the right time to call for pit stops helped the drivers secure wins. Even after coming from a rather worse position in the race.
Red Bull’s Principal Strategy Engineer Hannah Schmitz had come under the limelight as the brains behind Red Bull strategy calls at Hungarian Grand Prix, which saw Max Verstappen win the race from P10.
Now, Hannah Schmitz has provided us with an insight on working with the two drivers in the latest podcast:
“They’re definitely both very interested in understanding the strategy and the plans you’re putting forward,” Schmitz told the Red Bull: Beyond the Ordinary podcast.
“They’re also really interested in all the pace analysis and everything that’s going on. They ask a lot of questions, so they’re definitely engaged.
“I would say though, I think I’ve never worked with a bad driver, or one that’s not interested because, at the end of the day, the strategy can have a lot of impact on the race.”
Hannah Schmitz details approach to conversations with drivers
The role of strategies became a talking point in the season as Red Bull’s main rival Ferrari made multiple blunders that cost them wins.
Schmitz details how team discussions take place before the race at different times. Hannah Schmitz herself talks to Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez about the team strategies.
Furthermore, how all the races should go, an insight is provided to drivers.
“The race engineers obviously work really closely with their individual drivers. They understand them and how to give them the information they need,”
Schmitz added.
“As strategists, we also brief them, so we have briefings throughout the weekend. The main ones being the pre-qualifying and the pre-race.
“We find it’s good for it to be more like a discussion. So we’ll say ‘this is our plan’, and we’ll ask for people’s opinions on things. And make sure people are involved and know the reasoning behind things we’re going to do. Because we find it really useful to be able to work as a team and get the most points as a team.”
Hannah Schmitz and other strategists are also repeatedly praised by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
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