Khawla, tell us a bit about yourself. How did your journey lead you to F1®?

"I come from an IT background focused on systems and network support. Before joining the team in Neuburg, I worked on AUDI AG’s network infrastructure, so I already knew the level of quality expected. When the opportunity came to join Audi Formula Racing, it felt like the perfect next step, combining my experience with a completely new, fast-paced environment."

And now you’re right in the middle of race operations – what does your role look like?

"During the week, I work on our IT infrastructure and when the car is on-track, together with my team, we from mission control ensure everything runs smoothly."

How do you ensure that?

"Prioritisation is key. I constantly need to decide what’s most important at any given moment, while staying closely aligned with the team. That’s something I learned earlier while working at Audi; an environment where precision and every second are crucial, much like here. Imagine the software monitoring the power unit stops working, or there is a communications failure between mission control and the race team, or the Internet connection fails. We are there to prevent or fix any of these IT failures."

That sounds exciting – what motivates you in such a high-pressure role?

"Honestly, it’s exactly that immediacy. In many IT jobs, you only see the results much later. Here, everything is live and if something breaks, you see it instantly. The work can be stressful, but in a very exciting way and while I don’t go to the track, I feel very much connected to it. I also value the strong support from the team – even in stressful moments, everyone works together."

What is it about your job that makes it special for you - and how do you see your contribution?

"This sport is all about speed, precision, and teamwork. Fans often assume the team’s perception only applies to what they see on-track, but what’s on the track is the result of what happens behind the scenes.
How do I see my contribution? Well, reliable IT is like an invisible backbone; when everything works, you feel part of something much bigger. We really race as one team."