Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver in the history of F1 with seven world titles and while his driving style remains unique, he also has a particular way of following the safety car.
Bernd Maylander has driven the F1 safety car for 23 years and will have had his fair share of iconic drivers in his rear view mirror. The 51-year-old had been a racing driver in his native Germany before landing his current role in 2000 and admits: "My job is to keep everyone calm and safe. To lead the field and control the race."
Different drivers follow behind the vehicle in different ways and he claimed Hamilton has a unique habit when driving behind him. “Lewis always hides a bit behind the car,” Maylander said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. “You always have to look into the blind spot – where is he?”
Maylander has witnessed first hand a number of the sport’s most controversial incidents, including the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver was on the cusp of winning a record eighth F1 world title when the safety car was brought out with six laps to go, following Nicolas Latifi's collision with the barriers. It forced former race director Michael Masi to intervene and turn proceedings completely on their head.
His improvisation of the safety car rules allowed Max Verstappen to close the 11-second gap between himself and Hamilton and allowed a one-lap shootout between the two rivals to decide who would be crowned champion.
Verstappen, on a new set of soft tyres, passed Hamilton to take a controversial race victory and the title. Bewildered by what had transpired, Maylander admitted: “I walked through the hospitality area with my helmet on and sat down at the back of the paddock. I had to be on my own first to think ‘what just happened?'”
Hamilton has struggled since that incident and failed to win a race in 2022, marking the first time he had gone through an entire F1 season without taking the chequered flag. And after consecutive P5 finishes so far this season, it is tough to know when the Mercedes star will stand on the top step of the podium once again.
His contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the season and he has indicated he has no desire to leave, with negotiations over a new deal continuing. “If I don’t feel like I’m being challenged, I’m not progressing or I’m not evolving, that is where you start thinking about your next move,” said Hamilton. “And I just haven’t felt that in these 10 years.
“I feel that I’ve had the right team to grow. Not only as a driver but as a man. I’ve been given the ability to be myself and (have) been accepted by Mercedes. And look what we’ve accomplished together – not only in results on track but things we’ve accomplished off-track and the steps we’ve taken.
“The changes we’re making through Accelerate 25 and Mission 44, where we are really starting to impact people. It makes me so proud because we hold ourselves to the highest standards and highest levels in everything we do.”
