The Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza began with an unexpected incident involving the F1 safety car during a routine high-speed test. On Thursday, the safety car, driven by Bernd Mayländer, ended up in the barriers after a dramatic crash, prompting an immediate response from track officials and sparking an investigation by Aston Martin.
Unexpected Incident at Parabolica
Ahead of every F1 race weekend, the safety car undergoes a series of high-speed tests to ensure it is ready for any potential emergencies during the event. During one such test lap at Monza, Mayländer lost control of the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition while navigating the Parabolica corner. The car skidded across the asphalt run-off area, bounced through the gravel trap, and crashed into the tire barriers at the edge of the track.
The crash was quite dramatic, with the car coming to a halt on its side against the barriers. Fortunately, both Mayländer and his passenger were unharmed and were able to exit the car without assistance.
Possible Cause Under Investigation
While the cause of the crash is yet to be officially determined, the way the car lost control while braking at Parabolica has led to speculation that a mechanical failure might have been involved rather than a mistake by Mayländer. The safety car’s unusual snaking motion before spinning out suggests a potential issue with the vehicle’s braking or handling systems.
The F1 medical car, which was also on track for routine checks, quickly arrived at the scene and transported Mayländer and his passenger back to the pits. Meanwhile, track officials worked efficiently to recover the safety car and clear the area.
FIA and Aston Martin Respond
The FIA released a statement acknowledging the incident but reassured fans and teams that it would not impact the remainder of the weekend’s events.
Official Statement:
“There was an on-track incident with the FIA Safety Car today at Monza. Aston Martin is investigating the cause but can confirm both driver and passenger are fine. There is an additional Safety Car at the circuit, and it will not impact the weekend’s event.”
Aston Martin is now conducting a thorough investigation into the crash. The car involved was an upgraded version of the Vantage, introduced earlier this year to address concerns about its speed. The Vantage features enhancements, including increased power to 656 bhp, bigger turbochargers, improved cooling, and new camshafts.
Previous Incidents in Motorsport
While accidents involving safety and medical cars are rare in Formula 1, they have occurred before. One notable example was at the 2000 Monaco Grand Prix when Alex Ribeiro crashed the Mercedes medical car during a practice run, hitting the barriers at the Tabac corner. In another incident at the 2002 Brazilian Grand Prix, Ribeiro narrowly escaped injury when a Sauber driven by Nick Heidfeld collided with his open car door.