Bernie Collins

Bernie Collins is a Formula 1 strategy expert and broadcaster who specialises in high-pressure decision-making, translating over a decade of pit wall experience into powerful business insight. As former Head of Race Strategy at Aston Martin and a performance engineer at McLaren and Force India, she guided teams through split-second calls involving weather, tyre performance and real-time data, working closely with drivers including Jenson Button and Nico Hülkenberg to deliver podiums against better-resourced rivals. Now a Sky Sports F1 strategy analyst, Bernie is one of the sport's most trusted voices, known for making complex data accessible to global audiences. Her sessions equip organisations with practical tools for better decision-making under uncertainty, stronger cross-team collaboration and calm, confident leadership when the stakes are highest.

For over a decade, Bernie Collins made some of the fastest, highest-stakes decisions in professional sport, standing trackside as race strategist for Formula 1 teams where a single miscalculation could cost millions and be scrutinised by a global audience within seconds. A mechanical engineering graduate from Queen's University Belfast, she entered Formula 1 at McLaren, rising from trainee to performance engineer before joining Force India as a Performance and Strategy Engineer. There, she supported driver Nico Hülkenberg and played a key role in securing a podium finish for Sergio Pérez at the Russian Grand Prix. She later became Head of Race Strategy following the team's transition to Aston Martin, leading trackside operations and guiding drivers through complex, evolving race scenarios involving weather shifts, safety car interventions, tyre degradation and real-time data streams.

Her work demanded absolute clarity under pressure, the ability to synthesise incomplete information into confident calls, and deep trust across engineering, performance and driver teams. Bernie worked closely with drivers including Jenson Button and Nico Hülkenberg, helping extract maximum performance against better-resourced rivals and delivering results that often defied expectations. In 2023, she transitioned from the pit wall to broadcasting, joining Sky Sports F1 as a strategy analyst. She has since become one of the sport's most trusted voices, known for translating intricate data and split-second decisions into clear, accessible insight for millions of viewers worldwide. Bernie also contributes analysis to Formula 1's official digital channels and continues to offer expert commentary on team strategies, including her recent breakdown of Aston Martin's 2026 car following Adrian Newey's design influence. She has also provided perspective on the challenges facing new entrants such as Cadillac, warning that simply making the grid in 2026 would represent a significant achievement given the complexities of modern Formula 1.

As a speaker, Bernie translates the lessons of Formula 1 into practical tools for business leaders and organisations navigating uncertainty, complexity and high-pressure environments. She explores how teams can make better decisions with imperfect information, how to build trust and collaboration across disciplines, and how to remain calm and decisive when outcomes matter most. Her sessions combine real-world pit wall experience with accessible frameworks around data-driven decision-making, marginal gains, innovation under constraint and high-performance teamwork. Audiences leave with actionable insight they can apply immediately to their own leadership challenges, whether managing risk, improving communication or staying composed when the stakes are highest. Bernie is also a passionate advocate for women in STEM, inspiring the next generation through her own journey and practical lessons in leadership, resilience and breaking barriers in male-dominated industries.