Red Bull principal strategy engineer Hannah Schmitz has explained she overcame scepticism from her colleagues to pit Max Verstappen despite both McLarens staying out in Formula 1’s Qatar Grand Prix.
The race was neutralised by the safety car on lap seven after Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly clashed; this happened to be the first lap when drivers could pit on to a two-stop strategy while respecting the mandated 25-lap cap on stints, which was implemented due to concerns over tyre wear on the demanding Losail track.
