In an unexpected turn of events before the Italian Grand Prix, a high-speed test session abruptly came to an end due to a peculiar incident. Taking place today at the legendary Monza circuit, the F1 safety car—an Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition, expertly driven by the talented Bernd Maylander, came to a sticky end.
The crash happened at the Parabolica corner, a difficult section of the track known for its challenging curve. The car, according to videos taken at the scene, lost control before skidding across the asphalt runoff area, barreling through the gravel trap, and making a forceful impact with the tire barriers.
What makes this incident particularly interesting is not just the dramatic nature of the crash, but the car involved; scenarios like this with the F1 safety or medical cars are exceedingly rare.
Miraculously, Bernd Maylander and his passenger emerged unscathed and were able to exit the damaged vehicle without assistance. Their safety was quickly secured with the aid of the Formula 1 medical car, which was also on the circuit conducting routine tests.
F1 safety car wreckage after crashing at parabolica during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on August 29, 2024 in Monza, Italy. The F1 safety car crashed at the Parabolica corner during a high-speed test session before the Italian Grand Prix.
Kym Illman/Getty Images
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with speculations pointing towards potential mechanical failure or an unusually rare error by Maylander. Further adding to the mystery, the car had recently undergone significant performance upgrades, including a new grille design, revised bodywork, and more power – an increase of 150bhp to a total of 656bhp. Maybe it was the extra few horses that led to the car being flung off the tarmac.
Historically, incidents involving F1’s support vehicles have been few but memorable. The 2000 Monaco Grand Prix saw Alex Ribeiro crash into barriers during a test run, and a near-miss at the 2002 Brazilian Grand Prix also involved Ribeiro when a stationary car’s door was hit by another vehicle.
This weekend’s schedule for the Italian Grand Prix remains as planned, with Practice 1 set to start at 13:30 local time on Friday, followed by several more sessions leading up to the Grand Prix on Sunday, which starts at 15:00 local time. Fans in the United States can catch the action on ESPN, which will air the Sky F1 feed, while UK viewers can tune into Sky Sports F1 or use the streaming service NowTV for live coverage.
2024 Italian Grand Prix When To Watch
Friday 30 August
Practice 1:
Local Time: 13:30 – 14:30
London: 12:30 – 13:30
Los Angeles: 04:30 – 05:30
New York: 07:30 – 08:30
Tokyo: 20:30 – 21:30
Shanghai: 19:30 – 20:30
Practice 2:
Local Time: 17:00 – 18:00
London: 16:00 – 17:00
Los Angeles: 08:00 – 09:00
New York: 11:00 – 12:00
Tokyo: 00:00 – 01:00 (Saturday 31 August)
Shanghai: 23:00 – 00:00
Saturday 31 August
Practice 3:
Local Time: 12:30 – 13:30
London: 11:30 – 12:30
Los Angeles: 03:30 – 04:30
New York: 06:30 – 07:30
Tokyo: 19:30 – 20:30
Shanghai: 18:30 – 19:30
Qualifying:
Local Time: 16:00 – 17:00
London: 15:00 – 16:00
Los Angeles: 07:00 – 08:00
New York: 10:00 – 11:00
Tokyo: 23:00 – 00:00
Shanghai: 22:00 – 23:00
