Hannah Schmitz: The F1 Strategist Who Dared to Upset the Boys’ Club

by Veronica Slipstream*

What really drives Red Bull?

Brains, guts, and girl power.

Ah, Formula 1—the pinnacle of speed, strategy, and spectacular male egos on parade. Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull Racing’s top strategist, has been central to every one of Max Verstappen’s victories (yes, the four-time world champ now eyeing a fifth, like it’s the latest smartphone release). Yet, in a sport ruled by testosterone-fueled machismo, Schmitz's exceptional talent hasn’t always gone down smoothly.

Fun fact: Verstappen himself has said that “our real racing genes are on my mum’s side. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a highly regarded karting rival to future‑F1 drivers; she stopped karting after she became pregnant with him.” ³

Enter Louis Dekker, F1 reporter and podcast commentator extraordinaire, with gossip that’d make even the most stoic race fan raise an eyebrow. On the December 1, 2025, Dutch NOS Formule 1 podcast, Dekker spilled the beans on how Hannah’s rise stirred tension among some male colleagues.

Since Christian Horner left as Red Bull’s team principal, the team seems to have found a new groove. Hannah recently gave a formal F1 interview after the strategic pit‑stop call that snatched victory at the Qatar GP—finally letting her shine in the spotlight instead of hiding behind the timing screens. (Thanks, new principal Laurent Mekies, for allowing the talent to breathe?)

“Some colleagues complained they, not just Hannah, deserved the attention.” -Louis Dekker on Red Bull colleagues’ reaction to Hannah Schmitz’s success.

With that shift in mind, here’s the word-for-word breakdown of Dekker’s segment:¹

Original Dutch (excerpt):

“…zij (Hannah Schmitz) is wat op de achtergrond omdat ze die rol nu eenmaal heeft meer achter de schermen, maar er speelt nog iets anders, zij heeft wel eerder op het podium gestaan trouwens met Red Bull en ze is wel heel belangrijk, maar toen zij de eerste vrouw was in deze rol en succes begon te boeken doken alle media, journalisten, camera ploegen op haar en dat vonden de heren collega van Hannah niet fijn…”

English translation:

“…she (Hannah Schmitz) works more behind the scenes because that’s the role she has, but there’s another factor: she has appeared on the podium with Red Bull before and is very important. However, when she became the first woman in this role to start achieving success, the media, journalists, and camera crews focused on her—and her male colleagues didn’t like that…”

Dekker continues:

Original Dutch (excerpt):

“…die begonnen te klagen dat zij ook en hun werk deden en ook complimenten verdienen en ook airplay verdienden en toen heeft RB besloten alle interview verzoeken met Hannah… We (NOS F1) hebben haar nog nooit in de podcast gehad, dat heeft een reden, want RB hield dat tegen…”

English translation:

“...They (Hannahs' male colleagues) began complaining, claiming that they also deserved the compliments and airtime while producing quality work. Red Bull's solution: they blocked all interview requests with Hannah. We’ve never had her on our podcast, and there’s a reason—Red Bull prevented it…”²

Yes, you read that right. Hannah’s male colleagues apparently found it scandalous that she only received media attention for doing precisely what they were paid to do. In a dazzling display of team spirit, Red Bull blocked her interview requests for a while—because, heaven forbid, one person actually gets credit in a team sport! Clearly, the solution to women breaking barriers is… keep them behind the scenes.

As Dekker pointed out, the reactions were framed as shock: “Oh look, a woman can do that too!” Red Bull might argue they were trying to treat men and women equally by limiting exposure—but equality isn’t silencing everyone. If someone deserves recognition, that light can be shared. The lesson? True equality means celebrating all contributions while giving well-deserved acknowledgment to groundbreaking achievements like Hannah’s.

Hannah is not alone in shattering motorsport’s glass ceiling. From engineers to team managers, women are making their mark—but often under more scrutiny than a pit lane speeding violation. Her story underscores how systemic biases can color perceptions of success even in a sport that prides itself on meritocracy.

"Recognizing a woman's groundbreaking achievements in F1 isn’t just about credit—it’s about celebrating diversity and inclusion."

In conclusion, Hannah Schmitz’s experience shows that in a world where every second counts, egos and outdated assumptions can move slower than a safety car mid-race. Celebrating her achievements isn’t about handing out gold stars—it’s about championing diversity, fostering inclusion, and proving that leadership and brilliance know no gender boundaries. Excellence triumphs—though grumbling about women getting credit still seems in fashion.

Kudos to Formula 1 and the broader motorsport community for actively promoting the inclusion of women across all aspects of the sport. This commitment is exemplified by initiatives like the F1 Academy, a female-only, Formula 4-level single-seater racing championship founded by the Formula One Group. While there is resistance and cultural inertia to overcome, it's encouraging to see real, meaningful change underway that promises to reshape the future of motorsport.

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Source:

NOS Formule 1 Podcast, Episode #28 WO_NOS_20308228, hosted by Afke Boven, aired December 1, 2025, with Louis Dekker commentary at 13:50–15:16. Spotify: Listen here (Dutch)

Footnote:

1.Transcribed and translated from Dutch to English by the author.

2.This is Dekker’s observation and does not constitute an official Red Bull statement.

3.https://www.gpfans.com/us/f1-news/1067964/f1-news-max-verstappen-ended-racing-career-mom/

*Satirical F1 commentator & cultural commentary writer Veronica Slipstream (pen name). Editorial Contributor: Trudy Giordano.