Bernadette 'Bernie' Collins has taken a sledgehammer to traditional gender roles in the world of motorsport.
After building a reputation as a Formula One (F1) strategy expert, she has become a respected analyst whose insights are proving invaluable to sports bettors.
Her journey from Northern Ireland to the pit lane of the world's most prestigious racing series is testament to her exceptional talent.
Collins was more fascinated by how race cars work than the actual sport itself while she was growing up. She took apart her toys for the fun of rebuilding them, which laid the foundations for what has become a hugely successful career in F1.
Her early interest in mechanics led her to study engineering at Queen's University in Belfast, where she participated in the Formula Student competition.
The experience sparked her passion for motorsport and set her on a path towards a career in F1. By her mid-20s, Collins was already working for McLaren, one of the top teams in the sport.
She quickly rose through the ranks and eventually became the performance engineer for Jenson Button, playing a key role in optimising the car's set-up and strategy for each race.
Collins' Insights are Priceless for Irish Punters
Betting on F1 is far from a cakewalk, given the plethora of variables that need to be considered before placing a wager, but that's where Collins' insights come in.
She started off as an engineer but transitioned into a race strategist and was responsible for making split-second decisions about tyres, pit stops and orchestrating overall race plans.
These decisions are major factors that can determine the outcome of a race, so understanding how she navigated them could give Irish F1 bettors the upper hand.
A perfect example of how race strategy can influence betting outcomes is Ferrari's performance at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Charles Leclerc's victory was largely due to a bold decision to make only one pit stop. It was a risky move, but it paid off because of the track conditions and Ferrari's careful planning.
Collins often emphasises the importance of gathering data and adapting to changing conditions. Ferrari did that and it helped them win the race ahead of McLaren, who had opted for a more traditional two-stop approach.
Understanding why Ferrari chose this strategy and how it worked offers Irish bettors a valuable lesson.
They can analyse similar situations in future races by considering factors such as tyre wear, track conditions, and how teams prepare for changes in weather or track temperature before placing wagers on betting sites.
For example, tyres may wear out faster in races with high temperatures, which could lead to more pit stops. This paves the way for competitors to overtake.
Irish bettors who recognise these patterns can make more informed bets, predicting not only the race winner but also elements such as the number of pit stops or which team may benefit from safety car interventions.
Collins Offers Punters a Winning Edge in F1 Betting
Working as a performance engineer gave Collins deep insights into car mechanisms and driver psychology, but it was in her later role as a strategy expert at Aston Martin (formerly Racing Point) that she truly flourished.
She shifted into a more high-pressure environment where split-second decisions could determine a race's outcome, and it delivered another key highlight of her career.
At the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain, Collins worked as a strategist for Racing Point, and her expertise was crucial in helping driver Sergio Perez claim his first-ever F1 win.
The win was especially heartwarming, given that the Mexican had dropped to last place on the first lap before mounting a spectacular comeback thanks to Collins' perfectly executed strategy.
Collins' expertise in several aspects of the sport has made her a valuable asset for punters looking to predict race outcomes with as minimal room for error as humanly possible.
Her keen attention to detail and unmatched understanding of how little decisions can make a big difference in a race gives her an edge when analysing the factors that influence a driver's performance.
Collins' experience as a performance engineer working closely with top drivers also gave her a deep understanding of how different drivers interact with their cars.
That insight allows her to interpret driver feedback, assess how a car will perform in various race conditions and analyse how each component of the vehicle can be adjusted for optimal performance.
Collins' journey from a young girl fascinated by mechanics to a leading figure in the world of motorsport is nothing short of inspiring and has been a game-changer for placing wagers on F1 races.
