Formula One won’t just have a new Virtual Safety Car in 2015 – the Safety Car itself is being replaced with a new model.
The Mercedes AMG GT S will replace the SLS AMG GT which has been in use since mid-2012. The twin-turbo V8-engined GT S produces 510bhp, which is around 80bhp less than its predecessor.
Former DTM driver Bernd Maylander will remain at the wheel.
Mercedes has been the official supplier of F1’s Safety Car since 1996, when a C36 AMG was the model of choice.
However the introduction of the Virtual Safety Car this year may mean the actual Safety Car makes fewer appearances.
2015 F1 season
- How a secret Mercedes engine mode helped pressure Vettel into a race-ending puncture
- Over 100 driver penalties issued in record-breaking 2015
- Part-time racer? The facts of Hamilton’s ‘jet-set lifestyle’
- The Complete F1 Fanatic 2015 season review
- Your favourite – and least favourite – F1 races of 2015
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
8th March 2015, 10:35
That’s at least one real mean looking car on the grid.
Manox (@marussi)
8th March 2015, 10:43
i find it kinda blend. dont like it and the silver is so plain boring
Bruno (@brunes)
8th March 2015, 10:58
I thought Mercedes would try a to use a hybrid or electric for marketing purposes.
P J Squeak (@pjsqueak)
8th March 2015, 23:50
The safety car has to be safe and dependable and an electric drive train in guaranteed, tested and dependable form is some way off in their performance cars. Hybrid isn’t yet a safety feature.
Bruno (@brunes)
8th March 2015, 11:00
I love the medical car
Booker (@)
8th March 2015, 11:03
No doubt it’ll be the best sounding car on the grid this year
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
8th March 2015, 11:39
@bookerdewitt Unless there’s a rainy start it won’t be on the grid.
The best sounding car there would be the medical car.
Booker (@)
8th March 2015, 11:49
Ah, good point. Loved the sound of the Merc last year
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
8th March 2015, 11:51
You can hear it over the F1 cars. Who would have ever thought it?
Geeyore
8th March 2015, 17:23
At Montreal last year, the best sounds came (roughly in order) from the AMG medical & safety cars, Ferrari Challenge, the CTCC Civics and Minis, and (last and very sadly) the blubbering F1 motorboats.
matt90 (@matt90)
8th March 2015, 23:01
I though that was often the case- the more bassy sound could be heard ‘under’ the V8s and maybe even V10s.
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
8th March 2015, 23:26
@matt90
Not at any GP I’ve been to. My experience (37 races) would be that at the race start, the full field of F1 cars would rush past the stunned spectators, leaving the scarcely believable scream of their glorious engines in the air. Just as everyone was beginning to come to their senses, the medical car would burble past, sounding indeed bassy but almost silent in comparison. Believe me, there was NO chance of hearing it while an F1 car was running.
That was the old ‘shock and awe’ of F1. Gone, but not forgotten, at least to some……:)
synapseza (@synapseza)
8th March 2015, 11:40
The skew decals on the bonnet…
Todfod (@todfod)
8th March 2015, 11:40
Beautiful looking safety car. My bet is that’s it’s quicker than the Mclaren as well ;)
Snige
8th March 2015, 16:48
In the wet its been known that the F1 cars really couldn’t keep up in the corners and the lead driver had to make a call for him to slow down as he could drop back too far.
Can’t remember which race it was
emi
8th March 2015, 19:17
I dont believe that.
Philip (@philipgb)
8th March 2015, 20:11
It’s to be expected. It goes too slow to generate downforce and heat in the tyres. You often hear the drivers complaining it needs to go faster so they can get done heat in the tyres.
John H (@john-h)
8th March 2015, 11:42
Looking quite Porsche-like from the rear tbh
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
8th March 2015, 14:25
That was my first thought too… Surely it wasn’t their intention to make people think of Porsches!
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
8th March 2015, 15:26
@john-h @bullfrog Meanwhile, over at Daimler and VW’s meeting on how much Porsche is worth……….
Tomsk (@tomsk)
11th March 2015, 21:07
and a Volvo from the front
Mashiat
8th March 2015, 11:52
Still faster than HRT…
kpcart
8th March 2015, 12:37
it has a sort of dodge viper look from first quarter, and the rear looks porsche like. it is a lot uglier(too me) then both those legendary sports cars, and i have never liked the big merc grill on their sports cars, it better suits their luxury cars. atleast the sound is good for the audience, much more interesting then the actual f1 race cars now.
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
8th March 2015, 12:55
Meh, boring. I would prefer an Italian sports car as a safety car.
Strontium (@strontium)
8th March 2015, 13:56
What was wrong with the old one? Or did it get changed just for the sake of it?
George (@george)
8th March 2015, 14:14
Marketing, they don’t make the SLS any more.
Stig Semper Fi (@stigsemperfi)
8th March 2015, 14:14
The SLS is discontinued. This is its replacement.
manatcna (@manatcna)
9th March 2015, 5:58
I was just about to ask that :)
CountryGent (@countrygent)
8th March 2015, 14:00
Why do I always associate AMG Mercs with waywardness? Oh yes, it’s because I popped a rented C63 in the wall on a trackday in Atlanta a couple of years ago…
And doesn’t this give Mercedes preferential treatment? A nice Huayra or Aventador would be much more third party…
greg-c
8th March 2015, 21:24
Oooooops
Hope your insurance was comprehensive?
Or are you still eating beans paying it off ? :) @countrygent
CountryGent (@countrygent)
9th March 2015, 8:17
Beans I’m afraid. I have a racing license, have driven racetracks all over the world, and in my arrogance thought I didn’t need insurance. I was wrong…
Kingshark (@kingshark)
8th March 2015, 16:53
This guy has been at the wheel of the safety car for 15 years now (since 2000), and I don’t ever recall him making any serious mistake, which is impressive, as he goes at nearly full speed of the car’s potential.
Philip (@philipgb)
8th March 2015, 20:14
I’ve always found it crazy how slow it looks on TV when in actual fact it’s hammering it a hell of a lot faster than I could lap.
greg-c
8th March 2015, 21:25
Or how tiny and low the F1 cars are to it
JimG (@jimg)
9th March 2015, 22:05
Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the safety and medical car drivers get to do any practise laps?
flatdarkmars
9th March 2015, 23:17
A retrospective on F1 Safety Cars through the years would make for an interesting feature.
Paul Crowther
23rd March 2015, 18:45
Please can you tell me how much of 2015 FI car is new for the Mercedes team.