Mercedes reclaims sole F1 Safety Car duties for 2026 with new AMG GT Black Series

Mercedes-AMG will be the exclusive supplier of the Formula 1 Safety Car from the 2026 season, ending its recent rotation with Aston Martin. The new official car will be a striking red AMG GT Black Series, marking a return to a single-supplier model and celebrating 30 years of Mercedes' partnership with the FIA in this critical safety role.

Why it matters:

The Safety Car is a pivotal part of race control and safety in Formula 1, and the supplier carries significant prestige. Mercedes reclaiming sole duties reinforces its long-standing institutional role within the sport and showcases its performance technology under extreme conditions. This move also concludes the recent era of shared responsibilities, streamlining operations and branding for the championship.

The details:

• The Car: The 2026 Safety Car will be a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. It is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing approximately 720-730 horsepower, capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds with a top speed around 325 km/h.
• End of Rotation: The announcement ends the rotation system with Aston Martin and its Vantage model, which had been in place since 2021. The Aston Martin DBX will also no longer serve as the Medical Car.
• Support Vehicle: The Medical Car duties will continue to be handled by the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+.
• Historical Significance: 2026 will mark the 30th anniversary of Mercedes' partnership as the official FIA F1 Safety Car supplier, which began at the 1996 French Grand Prix. The German manufacturer celebrated its 500th Grand Prix in the role at the 2023 United States Grand Prix.
• Driver Milestone: Long-time Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer is set to reach 500 Grands Prix in the role at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix in March, having first taken the wheel in 2000.

What's next:

The new red AMG GT Black Series will take to the track at the start of the 2026 season. All eyes will be on its operational debut and performance in controlling race situations. For Mercedes, this renewed exclusive contract is both a celebration of three decades of safety partnership and a continued platform to demonstrate the extreme capabilities of its AMG performance brand on the global stage of Formula 1.