FIA Safety Car driver observes F1 champions in rear mirror: 'They try and push me'

When we speak to Bernd Mayländer, the atmosphere of Formula 1 history surrounds him in his home office. 

His role as an FIA Safety Car driver began in 1999 with an offer to race in Formula 3000, an opportunity he grabbed with both hands in hopes of getting a foot in the door at a role in F1.

"I didn't really have a specific number of years in my head at the time," Mayländer exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"I see life as a project where you have to manage everything. When I start something, I believe in it and then it becomes a long-term project."

Mayländer has spent almost three decades driving the F1 safety car, playing a crucial safety role when there is a hazard on the track.

For Mayländer, it's more than just driving the Safety Car, it's the atmosphere and cooperation with his colleagues that keep him enthusiastic. 

Although he doesn't compete for trophies, Mayländer still challenges himself every week on the F1 circuit. 

"On Thursday, after the track test, the first thing I do is check the official timing documents," he laughs. 

"I look at where the purple sectors are and compare them to my times from last year. That's my own personal competition."

This focus is essential because the challenge is greater than the outside world often thinks, as procedures are refined every year. 

"It has to be done at the highest level, like everything else in Formula 1. Without the Thursday practice sessions and the daily checks with Race Control it wouldn't work."

Respect from the 22 drivers

During his time in F1, Mayländer has seen many greats in his rearview mirror, from Michael Schumacher to Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen. 

Although drivers often complain about the speed of the Safety Car, Mayländer feels he is respected by the F1 drivers.

“They know I have experience. They are focused on the race, I am focused on safety. Sometimes I have information they don't have, and I try to explain that to them later."

When asked about the driving styles of the world champions, he stated: "Schumacher was aggressive, just like Max and Lewis are now. 

“They challenge you, gamble a bit. Other drivers are more relaxed, like Sergio Perez, who even got a penalty in Singapore once for leaving too much distance.”

At the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Mayländer reached the sensational tally of 500 grands prix.

How long will Mayländer keep his role up?

"I'm realistically thinking about 600 or 650 Grands Prix," he stated. "But I don't see myself still in the Safety Car at 78. I would rather advise a young successor from the paddock."

As for his weekend car, he is more than satisfied with the current Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, according to him the fastest street car AMG ever built. Still, he continues to dream. 

"There are many developments with new GT models. It would be great to be in a car even closer to a real GT3 racer."

Incidentally, he does not rule out a trip to a certain Italian marque in the future: "I've never driven for an Italian brand before, who knows."

For now, however, Mayländer remains undeterred to move on. As he says himself: “I still enjoy what I do every day."