The safety car driver is not finished with F1 just yet.
"Remaining stagnant has never been a choice for me,"
By GMM
12 March 2025 - 13:46
Formula 1’s long-time safety car driver is not finished yet.
Bernd Maylander, a former racing driver from Germany, has occupied the safety car driver’s seat full-time since 2000.
As he returns to Melbourne once again, he reflects on his feelings from a quarter of a century ago.
"I was beaming with pride to be on the grid and suddenly found myself in a driver's briefing alongside all the superstars such as Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, and David Coulthard," the 53-year-old shared with DPA news agency.
"I introduced myself quite casually - 'I’m the guy at the front who’s holding you back,' " Maylander chuckled.
He expresses great enjoyment in his role, although he admits his favorite races "are the ones without a safety car."
"Luckily, I'm not paid by the lap; otherwise, I would have faced significant losses last year because I didn't even have to go out for nine Formula 1 races," Maylander added.
"Certainly, it's enjoyable to drive, but when there’s no action on the track, that’s the greatest reward."
Maylander is married with children, yet he maintains that he is still dedicated to Formula 1 for now.
"Remaining stagnant has never been a choice for me," he stated.
So how long will he keep leading grands prix without ever finishing first? "I’ve already considered this question in various ways," Maylander replied.
"I still have a contract for 2025 and 2026, and I know that I could continue beyond that."
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