At the Grand Prix of Singapore just gone you saw the fine line top level motorsport can tread as it negotiates it’s way between outright failure and the sweet taste of victory. Now I’m not talking about do or die moves from drivers here I’m talking about plain old ‘dull’ reliability.

For dull it certainly is not; as Red Bull inspected the brakes on Mark Webber’s car mid race to try and trace the source of ominous looking clouds of back dust from the front right brake disc the awful reality must have been dawning on certain members of the technical team. They had crucially underestimated the level of stress the near two hour night race would exert. Within a matter of laps Webber was heading backwards into a tyre wall title hopes in ruins, brake disk exploded.

Of course the problem manifests itself on race day in front of worldwide television audiences, but it does not begin there. Its roots were perhaps laid back at the factory, weeks even months before. A decision to not develop brake discs with more durability a decision perhaps to save weight at the cost of reliability. Perhaps even financial, risk verses reward for that is indeed at the choice all top technical directors have to make day to day, in return they take the glory or they take the brickbats.

What would you do? Will your development paths and choices come back to haunt you or will you show the foresight and planning that the greatest minds in motorsport display!

Another season of unfulfilled promise, your multinational paymasters are getting restless as that first win seems just as elusive as ever. Not only is your job on the line but the very future of your racing team hangs in the balance.

Word is beginning to come through from top brass then even if funding is secured for the following season the budget will not be anywhere near as lavish as you have become accustomed. It’s time for cuts but where? You’ve seen the wind tunnel figures for next years car, you are sure it is a winner but you’ve been here before, maybe you won’t need to develop it into a winner, could you have out thought everybody and have the quickest car from the off. Perhaps next years development budget can take the hit allowing you to extend the contract of your inconsistent star driver. He may cost a little more than you would like but his qualifying performances can sometimes transcend the true level of your car saving the whole team embarrassment in the process, can you ‘afford’ to let him go. If you can it’s time to put the feelers out for a replacement a young charger perhaps from your young driver program, will they cut it at top level or do you still need an experienced hand…

Decide for yourself in GPRM!