Bernd Michael Mayländer

Bernd Michael Mayländer, born on May 29, 1971, is a German racing driver primarily known for his role as the Formula One safety car driver, a position he has held since 2000. Before his career as a safety car driver, Mayländer competed in various racing series, demonstrating his skills in different racing disciplines.

Mayländer's racing journey began in karting in the late 1980s before progressing to Formula Ford, the Porsche Carrera Cup, and the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). In 1994, he secured the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany title, showcasing his talent in Porsche racing. In 2000, he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in a Porsche 911 GT3-R. From 2001 to 2004, Mayländer raced for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM, achieving a race win at the Hockenheimring in 2001. He also achieved a podium finish at Le Mans 24 Hours, finishing second in the GT class.

Since 2000, Bernd Mayländer has been the safety car driver for Formula One races, driving Mercedes-Benz vehicles. He has only missed a few races, such as the 2001 Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix due to injury, and the 2002 United States Grand Prix. As of 2018, Mayländer had led over 700 laps in Formula One.