Mercedes-AMG F1 Safety Car Gets A Brand-New Look

For the first time in over 60 years, Aston Martin is making a triumphant return to Formula One this year. As well as entering a new F1 race car, Aston Martin will be represented in the 2021 F1 season with a new stunning Vantage safety car and DBX medical car. Don’t think this means the long-serving Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car will be retired, however.

For the 2021 season, the Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car returns with a brand new design. In contrast to the traditional silver finish, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car is painted in a new eye-catching red finish matching AMG’s signature color.

A prominent CrowdStrike logo also adorns the logo, representing Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s partnership with the cybersecurity company. This colorful new look has also been applied to the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate medical car.

“In recent years the FIA has done a huge amount for safety in Formula 1. Nonetheless, accidents cannot be completely avoided, and this is when we see how important the work of the stewards and the dependability of the safety car and medical car are. With our AMG GT R and our C 63 S Estate, we have two tailor-made, racetrack-tested cars in our portfolio that have proved their worth as the FIA Safety Car and FIA Medical Car. The new-look also suits them extremely well,” said Philipp Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG.

Based on the road-going model, the Mercedes-AMG GT R F1 safety car is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 producing 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds and top out at 197 mph. It’s also equipped with the AMG Track package that includes a roll-over protection system and high-performance ceramic brakes. Behind the wheel of the safety car will be AMG Brand Ambassador and Driving Academy instructor Bernd Maylander, who has been the official Formula One safety car driver since 2000.

Whereas the Aston Martin Vantage safety car will make its track debut on March 28 at the Gulf Bahrain Grand Prix season opener, the AMG GT R will debut in the second round of the 2021 Formula One Championship in Imola on April 18.