Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro Debuts as F1 Safety Car at Hungarian Grand Prix

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New AMG GT 63 Pro debuts as the official F1 Safety Car.

Active rear wing features fully integrated LED signal lights.

The first AWD Safety Car is powered by a twin-turbo V8.

Mercedes-AMG is celebrating three decades of supplying safety cars to Formula 1 with a brand-new track machine. Making its debut at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, a modified Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+ replaces the previous-gen AMG GT Black Series that served its role for 51 races between 2022 and 2026.

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Fans of the three-pointed star might argue that the upcoming production version of the Concept AMG GT Track Sport would be a better fit to succeed the retired Black Series. However, the V8-powered monster with the high-downforce kit has yet to be officially unveiled, leaving the GT 63 Pro as the most capable version of the current lineup.

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The highlight of Affalterbach’s 14th safety car is the lighting setup. Rather than mounting a bulky lightbar on the roof, Mercedes-AMG integrated the LEDs directly into a custom active rear wing and flap assembly, together with cameras. The model also gets dimmable LED strobes on the front bumper, as well as inside the headlights and taillights.

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For those who don’t follow F1, orange lights indicate a strict no-passing zone, while green lights authorize drivers to overtake the safety car once the track is clear.

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Besides the unique lights, the safety car also boasts a redesigned aero package compared to the roadgoing Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+ that debuted in mid-2024. Changes include a more pronounced front splitter, aero canards, the aforementioned active rear wing and tweaked underbody panels for improved airflow.

To mark the 30-year partnership that began in 1996, the safety vehicle heading to Hungary wears an anniversary livery featuring deep black paint, red foil graphics, CrowdStrike sponsor branding, and anniversary emblems on the hood, roof, and rear wing.

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Inside, safety car driver Bernd Maylander sits in a Recaro racing bucket with six-point harness and is protected by a roll cage. The cockpit features a large display in front of the passenger, alongside specialized radio and GPS gear. Finally, the tank is filled with Petronas Primax Pro-Race M2 100-octane fuel formulated with 40% sustainable components, including 10% ethanol and 30% eFuel.

The First AWD Safety Car

The safety car doesn’t get any performance upgrades . Under the hood lies the familiar twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, which is good for 604 hp (450 kW / 612 PS) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque. Power is routed through an AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed transmission and the variable 4Matic+ system.

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This means that the AMG GT is the first AWD safety car in FIA-partnered history. If you’re wondering about the retired Aston Martins, the AWD-capable DBX707 was a Medical Car, and the Vantage Safety Car was rear-wheel-drive – as with all previous models from Mercedes.

As expected, the model comes fitted with all of the AMG goodies, including the Active Ride Control chassis, the massive ceramic composite brakes with six-piston front calipers and forged alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Pirelli P Zero R rubber.

Mercedes-AMG