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Since 1996 the official Formula One safety car has been supplied by Mercedes-Benz and the current model is a 571-HP Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Since 2000 the FIA has entrusted the task of driving the safety car to Bernd Maylander, a former successful touring-car racer.
It comes into use during a race to reduce speed for safety reasons – for instance, after an accident or because the track is waterlogged after heavy rain. According to the regulations, the safety car enters the circuit ‘whenever there is an immediate hazard but the conditions do not require the race to be interrupted’.
It is on standby throughout a Grand Prix. When it is deployed, the safety car will join the track immediately and from that point no overtaking is allowed. It will then allow cars to pass it until the race leader is immediately behind it. Throughout the process, a ‘Safety car’ board is also displayed to drivers as they cross the start-finish line, and the information will also be relayed over radios from the pit lane.
When the car leaves the track again, a similarly exact procedure is followed. At the start of its final lap the safety car will turn off its orange flashing lights. Competitors must still remain behind in formation. The safety car will pull off into the pits at the end of the lap and – as they cross the line – the competitors restart their battle.
Time-table
Thursday
09:00 11:00 Promoter activity Starting grid presentation rehearsal
10:00 16:00 Formula One Initial scrutineering
15:00 Formula One Press conference – press room
15:00 16:45 Formula One 3-day ticket holders pit lane walk only
16:00 Formula One Team managers’ meeting
17:00 GP2 Drivers’ meeting
17:00 19:00 Formula One Track closed FIA/FOM systems checks
17:45 Formula One Track inspection, track completely clear
18:00 19:00 Formula One High speed track test - FIA safety and
medical cars
Friday
11:15 Formula One Medical inspection
11:30 11:45 Formula One Track inspection
12:00 12:45¹ GP2 Practice session
13:00 13:45 Formula One Paddock Club pit lane walk
13:00 Porsche GT3 Cup ME Drivers’ meeting
13:30 13:40 Formula One Track inspection
14:00 15:30¹ Formula One First practice session
15:45 16:55 Formula One Paddock Club pit lane walk
16:30 17:00¹ Porsche GT3 Cup ME Practice session
17:30 17:40 Formula One Track inspection
18:00 19:30¹ Formula One Second practice session
20:00 20:30 GP2 Qualifying session
20:00 21:00 Formula One Press conference - Press room
21:00 Formula One Drivers’ meeting
21:00 21:45 Track activity Marshals’ pit lane walk
Saturday
11:30 12:40 Formula One Paddock Club pit lane walk
11:35 11:45 Formula One Track inspection and safety car test
11:55 12:25 Porsche GT3 Cup ME Qualifying session
12:10 12:30 Formula One Team pit stop practice
12:30 Formula One Medical inspection
12:55 GP2 Pit lane open
13:00 GP2 Pit lane closed
13:10* 14:15 GP2 First race (32 laps or 60 mins)
14:30 14:45 Formula One Track inspection and track test
15:00 16:001 Formula One Third practice session
16:15 17:30 Formula One Paddock Club pit lane walk
16:30 17:05 Porsche GT3 Cup ME First race (10 laps or 30 mins)
17:30 17:40 Formula One Track inspection
18:00 19:00 Formula One Qualifying session
20:00 21:00 Formula One Drivers autograph session
Sunday
12:30 Formula One Medical inspection
13:00 13:10 Formula One Marshalling system track test
14:00 GP2 Pit lane open
14:05 GP2 Pit lane closed
14:15* 15:051 GP2 Second race (23 laps or 45 minutes)
15:00 Formula One Drivers’ meeting (if necessary)
15:30 17:15 Formula One Paddock Club pit lane walk
15:35* 16:10 Porsche GT3 Cup ME Second race (10 laps or 30 mins)
16:30 Formula One Drivers’ track parade
16:45 17:15 Formula One Starting grid presentation
17:00 Formula One Medical inspection
17:10 17:20 Formula One Track inspection
17:30 Formula One Pit lane open
17:45 Formula One Pit lane closed grid formation
17:46 Formula One National Anthem
18:00* Formula One Grand Prix (57 laps or 120 mins)
