Inside the Safety Car - with driver, Bernd Mayländer

It's there to keep F1 safe, and it can transform a race. The FIA Safety Car is sent out in poor weather or after a crash to protect marshals, drivers and fans. But there's more to it than meets the eye...

Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne explore the secrets of the safety car: how the decision to use it is made, its purpose on-track and how drivers and strategists can gain an advantage when the SC is deployed.

Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer tells F1 Explains about his job and the incredible AMG-Mercedes and Aston Martin he drives. Then, Christian climbs into the driver's seat to see the amazing kit the car has on-board.

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Learn more about F1 with our previous episodes:

•
How F1 video games are so realistic (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/c640fb18ed92…) - with EA SPORTS F124

•
LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/700b0818663f…) + F1 Explains listeners

• Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/6859682f9899…)

•
F1 race suits, boots, gloves + underwear (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/cbf5183b62c2…) - with PUMA

•
F1 brakes - technology + technique (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/5001c7bd9f71…)- with Brembo + Jack Doohan

•
The job of an F1 Team Principal (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/9e4c3f3a0a64…) - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

•
Why F1 teammates are friends + foes (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/c8077d572c32…) - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

•
How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/4aa596a55e74…) - with Oscar Piastri

•
F1 Academy (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/5eb52ce8d016…) - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

•
The F1 race start (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/43c1466ce0c8…) - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

•
Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/8e4e4937ef74…) - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

•
Why F1 pre-season testing matters (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/badaf631153a…) - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

•
How F1 teams build their new cars (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/3cffcf3001aa…) - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows

More Official F1 Podcasts

• For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid (podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid)

• For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation (podfollow.com/f1-nation)

Experience Formula 1 live this season
Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas, across Europe and around the world are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com (tickets.formula1.com) to book your seats