Ruth Buscombe

A first-class honours graduate from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, Ruth began her Formula 1 career with the legendary Scuderia Ferrari at their Maranello headquarters in 2012. This followed the completion of her Master’s Thesis with the FIA, the sport’s governing body, on the Drag Reduction System (DRS), which was later implemented to enhance overtaking opportunities in the sport.

At Ferrari, Ruth Buscombe started as a Simulations Engineer before transitioning to a Race Strategist role. From Ferrari’s remote strategy room in Italy, she managed strategies for world-class drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel. Ruth played a pivotal role in crafting the race-winning tactics that secured Sebastian Vettel’s first victory with Ferrari at the 2015 Malaysia Grand Prix.

In November 2015, Ruth joined the American Haas F1 Team as their trackside strategy engineer, contributing to the team’s successful debut with double points finishes in the first two races of the season. She then moved to Sauber, where she played a crucial role in helping the Swiss team finish ahead of Manor Racing in the 2016 Constructors’ Championship.

Ruth spent eight seasons with the renowned Hinwil-based team as Head of Race Strategy from 2016 to 2023. During this time, she worked with current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc during his rookie season in 2018 and helped Sauber achieve their best Constructors’ Championship finish in a decade, securing sixth place in 2022 before leaving the team at the end of 2023.

Currently, Ruth serves as an Analyst, Strategist, Presenter, and Commentator for Formula 1 and F1 TV, offering viewers around the globe expert insights into race-defining strategic decisions. In addition to her media role, she speaks at corporate events within Formula 1, explaining the complexities of race strategy and data-driven decision-making.

As one of Formula 1’s most successful female engineering leaders, Ruth Buscombe is a strong advocate for women in STEM and engineering. She has been an ambassador for Susie Wolff’s Dare to be Different, now known as the FIA Girls on Track initiative, since 2016.