Hannah Schmitz (''née'' McMillan; born May 1985) is a British engineer, currently working for Austrian Formula One team Red Bull Racing as Principal Strategy Engineer. She is widely regarded as one of the most successful female figures in the sport of Formula One, heralded as key in Red Bull's 2021, 2022, and 2023 title charges.

Personal life

She is married to a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

husband, Markus Schmitz, with whom she shares two daughters (born in 2019 and 2021).

Education

In 2009, Schmitz obtained a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, with a focus on optimization theory, regression analysis, and

statistical model A statistical model is a mathematical model that embodies a set of statistical assumptions concerning the generation of Sample (statistics), sample data (and similar data from a larger Statistical population, population). A statistical model repres ...

s. At university, Schmitz was part of the Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER) team, taking on the role of Mechanical Team Leader. She led the CUER team in the

World Solar Challenge The World Solar Challenge (WSC), since 2013 named Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, is an international event for solar powered cars driving 3000 kilometres through the Australian outback. With the exception of a four-year gap between ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. She attended

Croydon High School Croydon High School is an Independent school (UK), independent day school for girls located near Croydon, London, England. It is one of the original schools founded by the Girls' Day School Trust. History The school was founded in 1874 in Welles ...

, where she excelled at water polo.

Career

Following the completion of her studies, Schmitz began her career working for Red Bull in November 2009, as a Modelling and Strategy Engineer, where she mainly researched and developed new simulation techniques, and maintained simulation tools for analysis, producing regular testing reports on past performances and future strategies. She soon moved to the role of Senior Strategy Engineer in 2011, where she played a key role in Red Bull Racing's live strategy in all Grands Prix as an indispensable member of its team. In

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...

, Schmitz was promoted to Principal Strategy Engineer. As of

2024 Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1928 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ***''Steamboat Willie'', Walt Disney's fi ...

, she remains with Red Bull Racing.

Awards

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...

, Schmitz was awarded ''Female Engineer of the Year,'' an award created by

McLaren Applied McLaren Applied Limited is a British technology company that works in conjunction with companies such as GSK, NHS and more. Its electronic division, McLaren Electronics, manufactures parts such as engine temperature and pressure sensors for F ...

to recognize inspiring female pioneers in

motorsport Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...

. Fellow nominees included Krystina Emmanouilides and Charlotte Phelps.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmitz, Hannah 1985 births Living people British engineers Formula One engineers British motorsport people