Mercedes-AMG will provide FIA safety and medical cars for F1

Affalterbach. Mercedes-AMG is assuming full responsibility for the FIA F1® Official Cars in Formula 1®. The performance and sports car brand from Affalterbach and the FIA, the world governing body of motorsport, have agreed on a comprehensive commitment that will take effect from the 2026 season. Mercedes-AMG will provide the Official FIA F1® Safety and Medical Cars at all 24 F1® Grands Prix as well as at the official pre-season tests in Bahrain.

“Safety is an absolutely central value of our brand and our products. That is why we have been providing the Official FIA F1® Safety and Medical Car in Formula 1® since 1996. From the 2026 season onwards, the FIA F1® Official Cars will once again bear the star at all F1® events. In this way, we will continue to make an active contribution to safety in the premier class of motorsport. For Mercedes-AMG, Formula 1® is not only a sporting platform, but also an environment in which the performance, reliability, and safety of our vehicles become visible under extreme conditions.” Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

The first deployment of a Safety Car with the star dates back to 30 June 1996. At the Formula 1® race in Magny-Cours, Mercedes-Benz appeared for the first time with a Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG as the FIA F1® Safety and Medical Car. This means that Mercedes-AMG will also be celebrating a special anniversary in 2026: for 30 years now, the brand with the star has stood for safety in Formula 1®.

Only last year, at the F1® Grand Prix in Austin, the 500th deployment of a Safety Car was marked. Between 1996 and 2026, a total of 13 different models were used as Safety Cars and eight different models as Medical Cars.

Since 2022, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series has been the Official FIA F1® Safety Car, and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ the Official FIA F1® Medical Car. Both vehicles are also currently in use and perform their duties not only in Formula 1®, but also in Formula 2, Formula 3 and other junior and support racing series.

Mercedes-AMG provides a total of three Official FIA F1® Safety Cars and two Official FIA F1® Medical Cars. At each race weekend, two of these vehicles are on site and ready for deployment. Maintenance of the vehicles is carried out by Mercedes-AMG. Technical support is also provided by a team from Affalterbach.

Another constant for 25 years is Bernd Mayländer. The AMG brand ambassador and former racing driver has been at the wheel of the Official FIA F1® Safety Car as driver since the year 2000. The 54-year-old will contest his 500th Grand Prix at the first Formula 1® race of the 2026 season in Melbourne.