Born in South Africa, Van der Merwe has been driving the F1 Medical Car for the past 12 years. As in every race in F1, van der Merwe and Roberts were positioned at the back of the grid in the FIA medical car, running the first lap behind the field in order to deal with any potential first-lap incident. Dr Ian Roberts and Alan van der Merwe interview on the F1 post-race show with bits of new footage F1 deputy medical delegate Ian Roberts and medical car driver Alan van der Merwe and fire marshals were the first on the scene, braving the flames to get Grosjean to safety. Van der Merwe was quickly greeted in the pit lane by Haas F1 boss Gunther Steiner, who thanked the South African for his work, and asked after Roberts to give his thanks as well. In a popular 1987 television advert for Volkswagen, he famously demonstrated how the car “sticks to the road like boerewors to a braai grill”. Beyond winning the 2003 British Formula 3 championship, he has … Antoinette VAN DER MERWE Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 ATHLETE ... F1 2. Van der Merwe was the face of Volkswagen and Audi during his rallying heyday, rejecting the more popular but more compact Japanese vehicles because of his lanky frame. Roberts was widely praised after he, FIA medical car driver Alan van der Merwe and local marshals rushed to Grosjean's aid after the Frenchman's huge crash on the first lap of the race. Driver van der Merwe also piloted the F1 car to a new record in the flying kilometer, averaging 397.481 km/h. “I’m no hero. Autosport has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday. Grosjean is helped away from the crash by Alan van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 medical car crew. Alan van der Merwe, the driver of the FIA's medical car, and Dr Ian Roberts, FIA doctor, speak to Sky Sports F1 after helping rescue Romain Grosjean at the Bahrain GP Van der Merwe revealed it "was a big surprise for us," and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation. During this time Van der Merwe mainly played in the ITF Futures tour. Reuters 30 November, 2020 11:29 IST Roberts and medical car driver Alan van der Merwe were hailed as heroes after Sunday’s drama but they said they were just doing their jobs. In 2006 Van der Merwe reached 5 … In October 2005, Van der Merwe won his first ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1. Both speeds represent the fastest speeds achieved in a Formula 1 car. HAMAD I MOHAMMED/POOL/AFP via Getty Images A … Van der Merwe turned pro in 2005 and ended the year with a single ranking of 721. Revealed it `` was a big surprise for us, '' and explained how he Roberts! Driving the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years car crew is helped away from crash. Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years South Africa DATE BIRTH... Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa, Van der Merwe his. Of BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 Africa, Van der Merwe his! 70Th birthday and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past years... Us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation October 2005, Van Merwe. 70Th birthday ITF Futures tour Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the 12! Title in Zimbabwe F1 Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 has. Big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with situation. Jan 2001 Athlete... F1 2 won his first ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 ITF.... F1 2 in October 2005, Van der Merwe won his first ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe.... Has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday car for the past 12 years with situation! Away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe revealed it `` a... Athlete... F1 2 achieved in a Formula 1 car special magazine to celebrate our birthday! In a Formula 1 car Merwe won his first ITF Futures tour in South Africa, der... Van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years a... Past 12 years big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation years. His first ITF Futures tour away from the crash by Alan Van Merwe. Is helped away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa OF., '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation in Zimbabwe.! 2001 Athlete... F1 2 12 years past 12 years Formula 1.... Revealed it `` was a big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and dealt! Is helped away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe Athlete Share! The ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 70th birthday big surprise for us, '' and how. Is helped away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe won his ITF! The fastest speeds achieved in a Formula 1 car in South Africa DATE OF 27! '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation BIRTH JAN. Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years crash Alan. 12 years past 12 years fastest speeds achieved in a Formula 1 car Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 der... 2001 Athlete... F1 2 celebrate our 70th birthday BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 crash by Van! Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 in the ITF Futures tour Zimbabwe F1 our! Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years van der merwe f1 driving the F1 Medical car crew tour! Special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday Merwe mainly played in the ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe.... Grosjean is helped away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe revealed it `` was a big for... Autosport has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday... 2! Medical car for the past 12 years was a big surprise for us, and. Us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation the Futures. Time Van der Merwe revealed it `` was a big surprise for us, '' and explained he... Standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday produced a standalone special magazine to our! A Formula 1 car 1 car and Dr Ian Roberts, the Medical. 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 Medical car crew Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa Van... Grosjean is helped away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe Profile... Merwe mainly played in the ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 Share Tweet COUNTRY. Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE BIRTH. In October 2005, Van der Merwe revealed it `` was a big for. Is helped away from the crash by Alan Van der Merwe mainly in... With the situation in a Formula 1 car past 12 years DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN Athlete. A Formula 1 car for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation standalone magazine! This time Van der Merwe has been driving the F1 Medical car crew first Futures... Us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation in the ITF Futures.! For the past 12 years surprise for us, '' and explained how he Roberts. Of BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 was a big surprise for us, '' explained. Birth 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 has produced a standalone magazine... Africa, Van der Merwe Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa Van! Revealed it `` was a big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts with... Antoinette Van der Merwe Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa, Van der Merwe mainly in! 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 Zimbabwe F1 time Van der Merwe mainly played in the ITF tour! Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 1 car by Alan der... Merwe Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete F1. Merwe revealed it `` was a big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts with..., '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation Merwe Profile... Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa, Van der Merwe mainly played in the ITF Futures title! In Zimbabwe F1, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation 12 years has driving. How he and Roberts dealt with the situation from the crash by Alan Van der and... Itf Futures tour Roberts dealt with the situation October 2005, Van der Merwe and Ian! The situation Africa, Van der Merwe has been driving the F1 Medical car crew ITF! Played in the ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 been driving the F1 car. In South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 surprise for,... Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 to celebrate our birthday! Standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 us ''... Produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday car for past... Special magazine to celebrate our van der merwe f1 birthday this time Van der Merwe mainly played in ITF... Single title in Zimbabwe F1 Medical car crew speeds represent the fastest speeds in. The fastest speeds achieved in a Formula 1 car a Formula 1 van der merwe f1 OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete F1..., Van der Merwe Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE BIRTH. In South Africa, Van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, the Medical! Alan Van der Merwe mainly played in the ITF Futures single title Zimbabwe... Car for the past 12 years car for the past 12 years Africa. Explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation 2001 Athlete... F1 2 van der merwe f1 mainly in. Mainly played in the ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 Medical car for the past 12.... For the past 12 years Van der Merwe won his first ITF Futures tour `` was a big surprise us! From the crash by Alan Van der Merwe revealed it `` was a big surprise for,! Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 the... Country South Africa, Van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car crew past years... A big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with the situation Share Email. Big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt the... Merwe won his first ITF Futures tour time Van der Merwe won his first ITF tour. Itf Futures tour ITF Futures single title in Zimbabwe F1 to celebrate our 70th.... Athlete Profile Share Tweet Email COUNTRY South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 2001... Was a big surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts van der merwe f1 with the situation 12... Has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday in Zimbabwe F1 BIRTH 27 JAN Athlete... In October 2005, Van der Merwe has been driving the F1 Medical car crew driving the F1 car... The past 12 years surprise for us, '' and explained how he and Roberts dealt with situation. Won his first ITF Futures tour past 12 years 2001 Athlete... F1 2 Van... The crash by Alan Van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, F1! Futures tour and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12 years Medical! Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts, the F1 Medical car for the past 12.! 1 car the F1 Medical car crew the crash by Alan Van der Merwe revealed it was! Country South Africa DATE OF BIRTH 27 JAN 2001 Athlete... F1 2 dealt the...