The New Formula 1 Safety Car
Formula 1 officially debuted a brand-new Safety Car at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The previous Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is being replaced by the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+. The new Safety Car produces an impressive 612 horsepower and has a top speed of 317 km/h (197 mph). It is also the first Safety Car in Formula 1 history to feature all-wheel drive.
Mercedes brought two new vehicles to the Hungaroring, both featuring a completely new black livery with red accents to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mercedes serving as Formula 1's official Safety Car supplier. The Safety Cars are deployed during heavy rain, track accidents, or other incidents when the field must be neutralized and brought under control.
Although many people may not realize it, a Safety Car cannot simply be any fast production vehicle. It must meet a number of demanding requirements. It needs to maintain a pace that prevents the Formula 1 cars' tires and brakes from cooling too much, while also remaining easy to control in wet conditions or when driving through areas where debris may be scattered across the circuit. In these challenging situations, the new fully variable all-wheel-drive system is expected to provide a significant advantage over the previous rear-wheel-drive setup. The car also features a revised interior specifically adapted for its role.
Power comes from a 4.0 liter twin turbocharged V8 engine producing 450 kW (612 hp) and up to 850 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a nine-speed transmission. The car is equipped with a high performance ceramic composite braking system, active roll stabilization, and revised aerodynamics. A completely redesigned new front splitter, an active rear wing, and downforce-generating dive planes all contribute to increased stability, particularly through high-speed corners. The fuel consumption makes 14,1 l/100 km and the CO₂ emissions are 319 g/km. The internal fuel tank can hold up to 75 liters of PETRONAS Primax Pro-Race M2 (100-octane), whose components are sustainably sourced.
"It is the first safety car with all-wheel drive. This provides optimum traction, which is particularly noticeable when combined with all the other technical features. It really comes into its own when cornering and accelerating. It is an exceptional road car. I am now looking forward to driving the new safety car for the first time under real-world conditions in Hungary," said long-time Formula 1 Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer.
The equipment also includes onboard cameras, radio communication with Race Control, GPS, and a large display used to operate the vehicle's various systems. The crew is protected by six-point racing harnesses, racing seats, and a roll cage. The car rides on Pirelli type P Zero R tires. The warning LED lights are mounted at the front, rear, and on the rear wing. Orange lights indicate that overtaking is prohibited, while green lights signal that drivers are allowed to overtake once again.
Mercedes has supplied the official Formula 1 Safety Car continuously for the past 30 years, beginning in 1996. The GT 63 PRO therefore becomes the fourteenth Mercedes model to serve in this role. The outgoing GT Black Series had been in service since 2022 and made its final appearance at the Belgian Grand Prix. During its time as Formula 1's Safety Car, it was deployed in 51 Grands Prix.