Bernie Collins Talks Rise in F1 and New Hollywood Film Role

Warwick, England – Bernie Collins, a former F1 strategist turned Sky Sports analyst, shares her journey and insights on the growing popularity of Formula 1. Just days after returning from a race in Jeddah, Collins reflects on her travel recovery techniques and her evolving role within the sport.

After more than a decade of working in motorsport, Collins is accustomed to the challenges of frequent travel. “It’s fine. You get methods of coping with it,” she said during an interview at the Dylan Hotel.

Collins highlighted the increasing support and viewership for F1, emphasizing a notable growth in female fans. “Everywhere, I think, the support is going up, the viewership is growing, and the female audience is expanding massively,” she explained while enjoying tea.

This surge in interest can be attributed in part to the success of the Netflix documentary series, “Drive to Survive.” The buzz around F1 will continue with the upcoming release of a Hollywood film featuring Collins as an advisor. She expressed her excitement, saying, “Given that I have only just started in TV, film has blown my mind.”

Collins’s break from F1 came in January 2022 when she resigned from her post at Aston Martin. Exhausted from the demanding travel schedule, she realized she needed a change. “I just got to Qatar totally broken, jet-lagged, not sleeping, struggling to stay awake,” she recalled.

Even during her exit from Aston Martin, Collins received heartfelt messages, including a compliment from Sebastian Vettel, who called her a “great person.” As she transitioned to broadcasting, Collins noted that support for her new role has continued to grow.

Her career began in engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, followed by a graduate position at McLaren, where she spent six years. Collins highlighted her journey into motorsport, remarking on how she attended a race at Silverstone. “I remember my first time at Silverstone… thinking it was a really cool thing to have done,” she said.

As head of race strategy at Aston Martin, Collins was responsible for strategic decisions during race weekends. “Qualifying was always quite intense,” she said of her time on the pit wall where she faced both highs and lows in an ever-competitive environment.

Looking ahead, Collins has turned her focus to broadcasting and public speaking, often sharing her experiences to inspire others, especially women in STEM. She remains optimistic about the future of female representation in racing, noting that F1 is seeing growth in female participation.

In her personal life, Collins is also planning a future wedding after getting engaged to Ryan McGarva, a former pit crew member. “At some point, I need to devote some time to planning a wedding,” she said with a smile, showing her commitment to balancing her professional and personal endeavors.

As F1’s viewer demographic expands, Collins is poised to play a significant role in the sport’s ongoing transformation.