Mercedes-Benz is giving Formula 1’s safety car a fresh look for the Hungarian Grand Prix, and it’s more than a simple paint change.
The new car is based on the latest Mercedes-AMG GT Pro, wearing a red and black livery that marks three decades since the brand’s first official F1 safety car appeared at the 1996 French Grand Prix.
It also signals a handover from the AMG GT Black Series, the more aggressive-looking machine that had been serving in the role until now.
At a glance
- Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new AMG GT Pro Formula 1 safety car for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
- The car wears a special red and black livery with a white “30” graphic celebrating Mercedes’ safety car anniversary.
- Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 612 hp and 627 lb-ft, sent to the rear wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
A new AMG lead car for Budapest
The Formula 1 safety car has become part of the sport’s visual language, and Mercedes has owned that space for much of the modern era.
For the Hungarian Grand Prix, the AMG GT Pro steps into one of the most visible support roles in motorsport, leading the field whenever race control needs to slow the pack.
The change is notable because the outgoing AMG GT Black Series carried a particularly track-focused presence, with a look that was closer to a road-legal endurance racer than a traditional grand tourer.
The newer AMG GT Pro appears less extreme by comparison, but it still sits firmly in AMG’s high-performance lane.
The anniversary livery has the message
Mercedes is using the debut to celebrate 30 years since its first Formula 1 safety car appeared at the 1996 French Grand Prix.
The AMG GT Pro’s special livery mixes red and black with a large white “30” graphic, making the anniversary message impossible to miss on broadcast cameras.
It’s a smart piece of visual branding for a car that spends its working life in front of the entire grid, often during the most tense moments of a Grand Prix.
AMG GT Pro hardware beneath the graphics
Under the bonnet is Mercedes-AMG’s familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, tuned here to produce 612 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque.
Drive is sent to the rear wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox, giving the AMG GT Pro the kind of immediate response and stability demanded by safety car duty.
That role isn’t simply ceremonial.
An F1 safety car has to run at a serious pace, particularly in poor conditions, because it needs to keep the field controlled without allowing race cars to lose too much temperature from their tyres and brakes.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Mercedes-Benz |
|---|---|
| Model | Mercedes-AMG GT Pro Formula 1 safety car |
| Event debut | Hungarian Grand Prix |
| Engine | 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 |
| Power | 612 hp |
| Torque | 627 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic gearbox |
| Livery | Red and black with white “30” anniversary graphic |
| Replaces | Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series safety car |
The AMG GT Pro’s arrival keeps Mercedes at the centre of one of Formula 1’s most recognisable non-racing roles, while giving the Hungarian Grand Prix a safety car with a clear anniversary story behind it.
