Safety car driver Mayländer after Abu Dhabi '21: 'What had happened?'

No less than 400 Grands Prix he was there by now. Not as an F1 driver, but still Bernd Mayländer often had the best view of what was happening on track. Since 1999, the German (51) has been the driver of the safety car. So he experienced the most talked-about moments in Formula 1 from very close by, such as the 2021 World Championship final showdown in Abu Dhabi.

The story is, of course, well known. On the last lap of the closing race, Max Verstappen managed to pass leader Lewis Hamilton after all, keeping him from his eighth world title. Afterwards, there was much discussion about the safety car being brought in just before the final lap.

Hiding a little

In conversation with Auto, Motor und Sport goes back to that one moment under the Abu Dhabi lights. "I walked through the hospitality with my helmet on and sat down behind the port first. I first had to clarify for myself what had just happened?"

Lewis Hamilton has often had Mayländer directly behind his safety car. The former champion - the Briton has not even won a Grand Prix since the end of 2021 - has a quirk, according to the German. "Lewis always hides a bit behind the car. You always have to look in the blind spot - where is he?"