Bernd Maylander: 500 races in the Safety Car

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. This episode is sponsored by: Liquid I.V. - go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first purchase with code GRID at checkout Saily - get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code grid at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to

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Bernd Maylander: 500 races in the Safety Car is an episode from F1: Beyond The Grid by karenellenbevan.

This episode is 58:04 long.

This episode was published on Apr 14, 2026.

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