Here’s a picture you don’t see every day: the safety car hit the safety barriers at the Parabolica this Thursday in Monza.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend got off to an unexpected start with an incident during a F1 safety car sighting lap. The unusual event quickly caught the attention of the public and the FIA.
Before each race weekend, the safety car and medical car complete laps of the circuit to test the timing systems and ensure everything is ready for the upcoming sessions. These laps also have another benefit: they give fans at the circuit a first opportunity to see vehicles in action before the official start of the on-track events.
The safety car accident at Monza
This weekend, Aston Martin is providing the safety car, alternating with Mercedes. The Vantage, the model used for this mission, unfortunately ended its race in the tire barriers of the Parabolica bend, recently renamed the Michele Alboreto bend.
This corner, the last of the fast Monza circuit, saw the safety car driver, Bernd Maylander, lose control of the vehicle.
An unexpected exit from the track
Although Bernd Maylander was unharmed, the Aston Martin suffered significant damage, particularly to the front left. Images of the damage show the violence of the impact.
The accident raises questions about the cause of the excursion. The FIA has pledged to quickly clarify the circumstances of the incident, whether it was a driver error or a mechanical failure.
