Performance, reliability, safety - Grand Prix lessons on picking investment platforms

Engines alone do not determine who ends up on the podium

clock • 5 min read

Richard Budnyj uses the world of Formula 1 racing to highlight the criteria that really matter when building or selecting an investment platform.

The McLaren MP4/4 is arguably the greatest Formula 1 car of all time. It was so dominant in the 1988 season, it won 15 out of 16 races with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost behind the wheel. On six occasions, the MP4/4 qualified first and second with a margin of a second or more. But, even more amazing, this incredible pace involved no detriment to reliability - the MP4/4 retired just four times, two of which were as a result of crashes. So why was it so dominant? In 1986, a designer at Brabham by the name of Gordon Murray had a theory that - by lowering the height of the car and reducing th...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Wrap/platforms

AJ Bell reports record platform AUM of £103bn

AJ Bell reports record platform AUM of £103bn

AUM and customer numbers both up 19% in the year

Jenna Brown
clock 23 October 2025 • 3 min read
Private markets for the mass affluent: How wealth platforms can scale access

Private markets for the mass affluent: How wealth platforms can scale access

‘The opportunity is clear’

Borja Largo
clock 15 October 2025 • 5 min read
AJ Bell Investcentre integrates with Dynamic Planner to ease adviser admin load

AJ Bell Investcentre integrates with Dynamic Planner to ease adviser admin load

Move to alleviate the administrative burden for advisers using its platform

Jenna Brown
clock 14 October 2025 • 2 min read