SUMMARY
- Red Bull breaks the 'rich man's sport' stereotype, inspiring the industry with their first female mechanic, Emmie Jones.
- Jones leads the charge, paving the way for greater gender diversity in Formula 1.
Formula 1 is often seen as a ‘rich man’s sport,’ evident in the male-dominated grid. However, Red Bull Racing has not only defied this stereotype but has also established a new standard, serving as a source of inspiration for the industry. The Austrian team has recently hired their first-ever female mechanic. The trailblazing female mechanic has paved the way for a larger representation of women in the sport.
The myth that motorsports is a man’s sport has by now ceased to exist as women like Jones and others are making an impression in the premier categories. Following McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante, many prioritize actively including more female drivers and personnel in garage duties. While female driver comebacks are discussed, women like Hannah Schmitz at Red Bull enhance the team’s tactical side.
Everything you need to know about Emmie Jones
In 2018, Jones worked as a technician with the Mercedes team. Last year, she made a bold choice to switch to the Austrian team. Jones focuses on the power unit for Red Bull and works actively as a mechanic. While Formula 1 aims for inclusivity, the mechanical domain is still largely male driven. Nevertheless, at Red Bull, Emmie Jones leads as the first female mechanic both the drivers onboard.
Meet Emmie Jones, Red Bull’s first ever female Mechanic! 🌟
“I’m very proud to be here, and hopefully it can inspire a lot more to follow in my footsteps.”
[redbullracing/IG] pic.twitter.com/9g8TRCnPQD
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) January 18, 2024
Following her time in the now-defunct W Series, where she worked as a mechanic, she made a significant move from Mercedes to the Milton Keynes-based team in March 2022. In an interview with Built For Athletes’, Jones said, “To be the first female Oracle Red Bull Racing mechanic a pretty big achievement for me and I’m very proud to be it and hopefully it can inspire a lot more to follow in my footsteps.”
Jones holds a mechanical engineering degree from Loughborough College and hails from Olney, England, as per her LinkedIn profile. Currently, she serves as the ‘No.2 Heritage mechanic’ at Red Bull Racing, showcasing her expertise and passion in action.
Red Bull draws attention towards women in Formula 1 engineering
The reigning champions aim to lead the way in showcasing female engineers in F1. As Max Verstappen with a remarkable 19 out of 22 victories in 2023, their mission is to spark greater interest among women for careers in the realm. Although there are currently no female drivers in Formula 1, efforts are underway behind the scenes to encourage more women to enter the paddock and contribute to team operations.
Who is she? She is Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer at Red Bull Racing. What does she do? She pulls off mind-boggling strategies to ensure Max wins on days when he doesn’t have the outright pace and boy does she succeeds!
We need more women like her.#HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/U7spMXxK92
— Chirag Khanna (@TheChiragKhanna) July 31, 2022
Meanwhile, the Bulls boast a technical workforce which constitute 75 women, making up about 6% of the behind-the-scenes team. A 2021 study underscored the significant shortage of women employees on race teams. The team has collaborated with ecommerce firm Rokt in a groundbreaking partnership. The objective is to make a positive impact and boost support for women in engineering.