Talking Bull Building a Winning Race Strategy: Will Courtenay and Hannah Schmitz
May 31, 2024
Will Courtenay, Head of Race Strategy at Oracle Red Bull Racing, brings years of F1 experience, while Hannah Schmitz, a Senior Strategy Engineer, expertly juggles track and factory duties. They delve into the thrilling dynamics of race strategy, discussing their unique communication methods, the pressure of pit-wall decisions, and how they manage risks during unpredictable scenarios like safety cars. They also share their favorite races, the importance of combining data with gut feelings, and their strategies for relaxation after intense race days.
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Episode notes
Split Roles Improve Decision Quality
- Splitting track and factory roles keeps the strategy team fresh and effective.
- One person makes final calls at the pit wall while the other provides detailed data support from the ops room.
Miami Safety Car Turned The Race
- Miami flipped when a late safety car followed a pit sequence and changed the race order.
- Will and Hannah explain that pre-race pitting and an untimely safety car handed advantage to drivers who stayed out.
Strategy Is Risk Management
- Strategy is about managing risk rather than finding a single right answer.
- Different people accept different risk levels, so post-race judgement often remains subjective.