Bernd Maylander: 500 races in the Safety Car

F1 Beyond The Grid

karenellenbevan

News, Sports News, Leisure, Automotive, Sports

4.7 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2026

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

At this year’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Bernd Maylander reached a remarkable milestone of 500 races as the FIA Safety Car Driver.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Bernd reflects on how the Safety Car and his job have evolved since his first race back in 2000 and some of the most iconic races he’s been involved in over the last 25 years.

He talks through what a Grand Prix weekend looks like for him, the role his co-driver Richard Darker plays and some of the challenges they face – like picking up the leader when the Safety Car is deployed and judging wet conditions.

Bernd also reveals what it feels like to have the fastest drivers on the planet right behind him and how he handles them complaining about his speed.

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Transcript

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0:34.0	Of the current Formula One grid,
0:36.7	only Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonzo have led more laps than safety car driver burnt mainlander.
0:44.3	So what's it like having the fastest drivers on the planet right behind you?
0:50.3	Somehow if you have these F1 drivers behind you, you can feel the power, you can feel the spirit.
0:56.4	Everyone is looking forward for the restart.
0:59.6	If you ask me if I'm still nervous, yes, I'm nervous.
1:03.1	Without this adrenaline, I think it would be boring and I would be not a safety car driver anymore, but I need that.
1:09.4	Burnt loves the thrill, but safety always comes first.
1:13.4	So he's not phased when drivers complain about his speed.
1:18.0	I spoke to him a couple of times after the race.
1:20.4	I said, oh, please don't say all these things.
1:22.7	And he said, yeah, yeah, no.
1:23.6	But in that moment, I didn't understand why you drive so slow.
1:26.1	And I explained him and he always agreed. That's completely normal.
1:37.1	Hello and welcome to F1 Beyond the Grid with me, Tom Clarkson.
1:43.5	Burt Maylander reached a monumental milestone in Melbourne earlier this year
1:47.6	when he completed 500 Grand Prix as the FIA safety car driver.
1:52.9	A lot's changed since his first race back in 2000, and we discuss it all.
	...

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