Bernd Mayländer, F1’s safety car driver, balances precision, strategy, and control, showcasing unique skills in his Thursday practice sessions.
At every Grand Prix, the FIA has two models each of safety and medical cars, ensuring an emergency vehicle is always available.
When Aston Martin alternates with Mercedes, approximately every other weekend, the touring cars in use include two Aston Vantages and two DBXs for the medical car.
The safety car is, of course, the most recognizable vehicle for F1 fans. In 2024, Bernd Mayländer, who has been driving the “SC” for a quarter of a century, commands a true powerhouse: with 665 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque, the Aston accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds.
These figures, while far below those of an F1 car, are crucial for safety, where every second matters.
“It’s fantastic – it’s a true partnership,” Mayländer explained to the FOM about his collaboration with Aston Martin.
“The cars are incredible, and the brand has a rich history.”
“Aston Martin did an excellent job,” he continued.
“Especially in the first year, when they had to learn how to design a safety car meeting FIA requirements. The new Vantage is even sportier. Everything has evolved: design, suspension, brakes, engine. It’s a fantastic car.”
The official safety car driver since 2000, Mayländer secured the role thanks to the late Charlie Whiting, then FIA race director.
“Charlie asked me, ‘Bernd, do you want to drive the safety car?’ I said, ‘Okay, I think I can drive.’ But I had to learn the rest, as it’s nothing like a regular race. Here, you never win, and you never cross the finish line. Sometimes, you’re not even allowed to go fast, and that’s when you need to adapt.”
Contrary to appearances, while drivers often complain about the safety car being too slow, Mayländer is frequently driving at 99% of his car’s limits.
“You need to know how to drive on the limit,” he adds.
“But that’s not the most important thing. What matters most is providing the right information to race control so they can make the correct decisions.”
Like others, the safety car driver also gets practice sessions: for him, it’s on Thursdays.
“You start just like a standard first practice session,” he says. “You adjust tire pressures and look for the car’s perfect balance.”
“You have to feel comfortable in the car to stay focused on what’s happening around you. Your limit must always stay below 100%, as there’s nothing to win—just a job to do well while enjoying it.”
At the start of his career, Bernd had only a radio and flashing lights. Today, the Vantage is equipped with two radios, two TV screens, and an integrated GPS that maps the cars’ positions.
“You can even see the force of impacts,” he notes. “It’s not essential for the safety car, but it is for the medical car, where the doctors are. We use all this equipment in F1, F2, and F3.”
“The radio is still the most important element,” he says.
“We have two systems, a primary and a backup. And if you see something on the screens or on the track, you can add to the information.”
In this second half of the season, Mayländer has often been sidelined as the safety car has become increasingly rare in F1. This is, of course, good news for safety. But he still loves his job.
“Absolutely!” he says.
“When I’m in the green car, I feel a bit like James Bond.”
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Bernd Mayländer: The Unsung Hero of F1’s Safety Game Bernd Mayländer: The Unsung Hero of F1’s Safety Game. f1 2025 Bernd Mayländer: The Unsung Hero of F1’s Safety Game
