Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Long-time Formula 1 safety car driver Bernd Mayländer will reach a historic milestone this weekend as he records his 500th grand prix at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The German has held the role of Formula 1 safety car driver since 2000, when he made his debut at the very same venue, the street circuit of Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
Over more than two and a half decades, Mayländer has missed only a handful of races. One of the notable absences occurred at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2001 after he fractured his heel in a fall while attending a DTM racing event.
Throughout that period, Mayländer has driven multiple safety car models deployed by the FIA in Formula 1. His presence on track has become a fundamental part of race management, particularly during incidents that require recovery vehicles or marshals to enter the circuit.
As safety car driver, Mayländer is responsible for controlling the pace of the field when race control deploys the safety car following an accident or hazardous conditions. By leading the pack at a controlled speed, he ensures drivers maintain safe gaps while track crews work to clear the circuit.
The milestone of 500 grands prix means Mayländer has participated in more Formula 1 events than any driver in the championship’s history. For comparison, the current record for race starts by an F1 driver is held by Fernando Alonso, who reaches 426 grands prix following the Australian Grand Prix.
Before taking on his long-standing safety car duties in Formula 1, Mayländer also enjoyed a successful racing career across several international championships. He won the 1997 FIA GT Championship, finished second in class at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, and claimed victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2000.
To mark his safety car milestone, Mayländer received special recognition from the FIA ahead of the Melbourne race weekend. The governing body presented him with a commemorative helmet from Bell, along with a celebratory poster and a cake honouring his 500th Formula 1 grand prix.
The achievement further underlines Mayländer’s status as one of the most enduring figures in modern Formula 1, playing a crucial role in maintaining race safety across more than two decades of grands prix.
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