Bernd Michael Mayländer (born 29 May 1971) is a German racing driver and current
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
safety car
In motorsport, a safety car, or a pace car, is a car that limits the speed of competing cars or motorcycles on a racetrack in the case of a ''caution period,'' such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather. The safety car aims to enable the ...
driver.
Racing career
Bernd started his career in
karting at the end of the 1980s. In the following years he made his way to the
Formula Ford, the
Porsche Carrera Cup and the original
DTM. In 2000, he won the
24 Hours Nürburgring in a
Porsche 911 GT3-R. When the
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, commonly abbreviated as the DTM, is a sports car racing series sanctioned by ADAC. The series is based in Germany, with rounds elsewhere in Europe. The series currently races a modified version of Group GT3 gra ...
(DTM) series was resumed in 2000, he drove for
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, established in 2019) is based in Stuttgart, ...
. He raced for Mercedes in DTM from 2001 to 2004, having won one race at
Hockenheimring
The Hockenheimring, officially Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg () is a motor racing circuit situated in the Rhine valley near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on the Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other mot ...
in 2001.
Safety car driver in Formula One
Mayländer is the
safety car
In motorsport, a safety car, or a pace car, is a car that limits the speed of competing cars or motorcycles on a racetrack in the case of a ''caution period,'' such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather. The safety car aims to enable the ...
driver for all
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
races. He has driven the Formula One safety car since 2000 with very few exceptions, such as the
2001 Monaco Grand Prix and
2001 Canadian Grand Prix, when he was injured and was replaced by
Marcel Fässler and the
2002 United States Grand Prix when he was replaced by Irish racing driver
Damien Faulkner.
As of 2018, Mayländer had led over 700 laps in Formula One during his career.
Peter Tibbetts serves as his map reader.
During a test prior to the
2024 Italian Grand Prix, after brake failure, Mayländer spun the safety car crashing into a barrier to reduce impact speed at the Parabolica. He and passenger
Richard Darker were not injured in the incident.
Other
In May 2005, he was one of six
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, established in 2019) is based in Stuttgart, ...
drivers taking part in a record drive. Three stock
E320 CDI cars drove in 30 days around the clock, which resulted in an average speed of .
Racing record
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results
† Driver did not finish, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.
1 - Shanghai was a non-championship round.
Complete International Touring Car Championship
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
24 Hours of Le Mans results
References
External links
*
Profile at Formula1.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maylander, Bernd
1971 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Waiblingen
Racing drivers from Stuttgart (region)
Formula One people
German racing drivers
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters drivers
FIA GT Championship drivers
24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
Porsche Supercup drivers
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport drivers
Team Rosberg drivers
Nürburgring 24 Hours drivers
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany drivers
Manthey Racing drivers