In the Service of Safety: For 30 Years, the brand with the Star has supplied the Official FIA F1® Safety and Medical Cars

• Exactly three decades ago, the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG made its debut in the pinnacle of motorsport
• A short-notice solution developed into a unique partnership that continues to this day
• Simon Wilbers: "The series has continued to evolve, but our commitment has remained the same."

A new era began for Mercedes-Benz and the pinnacle of motorsport at the French Grand Prix on 30 June 1996. Exactly 30 years ago, the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG made its debut as the Official FIA F1® Safety Car at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France. What was originally intended as a short-term response to the growing demands of the racing series evolved into an extraordinary success story. The objective was clear: to enhance safety in the championship, manage critical situations and ensure the orderly running of races. To date, 13 different and powerful Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG models have carried out this responsible role in more than 500 Grands Prix. Together with the Official FIA F1® Medical Car, which has also been supplied by the brand with the star since 1996, they continue to form an integral part of Formula 1®’s safety concept. Every Formula 1® Safety Car and Official FIA F1® Medical Car has, from the very beginning, been powered by a Mercedes-AMG engine.

Safety and Medical Cars had already become a permanent feature of modern Formula 1® operations from 1993 onwards. After various manufacturers initially supplied the Safety Car, the championship opted for a standardised model from the 1996 season. Then Formula 1® chief, Bernie Ecclestone, approached former Mercedes-Benz Head of Motorsport, Norbert Haug. Together with his team, he was tasked with establishing a Mercedes-Benz Safety Car capable of meeting the sport’s increasing safety and performance requirements.

1996: Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG becomes Formula 1®’s short-notice solution at Magny-Cours
The rapid solution was unveiled just three races later at the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. The Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG used there was in fact the converted personal vehicle of then DTM driver and current Official FIA F1® Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer. Due to the short lead time, various models supplied by local Mercedes-Benz national sales organisations were used during the first season. For the 1997 season, two Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 models were initially ordered. However, Norbert Haug successfully advocated for the more powerful CLK 55 AMG, which subsequently remained in service for three years and was also introduced as a production model from 1999 onwards.

1999: Charlie Whiting offers Bernd Mayländer the permanent role of Official FIA F1® Safety Car Driver
The successful partnership on the manufacturer side prompted long-serving Formula 1® Race Director Charlie Whiting to seek continuity behind the wheel as well. In May 1999, he approached Bernd Mayländer, who immediately decided to take on the role of Official FIA F1® Safety Car driver. On the very same day, Mayländer travelled to Imola to gain experience in Formula 3000. He made his ‘Formula 1® debut’ at the 2000 Australian Grand Prix, driving the 350 hp Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG. For the past 26 years, Bernd has remained the calm and experienced figure in critical situations. When required, he is on track within seconds, leading the field, reducing lap speeds and neutralising the race. In close coordination with Race Control, he sets the pace according to the circumstances — slow enough to ensure safety, yet fast enough to keep Formula 1® cars operating within their optimum temperature window. It is a role that demands the highest levels of concentration, experience and trust.

From the C 36 AMG to the GT Black Series: 30 Years of innovation in the service of safety
What began as a short-term solution in 1996 has evolved over three decades into a highly specialised operational vehicle. During this period, aerodynamics, communication systems, lighting technology and safety equipment have been continuously refined to meet the ever-increasing demands of Formula 1®. Despite these high expectations and thousands of laps completed under often challenging conditions, the operational readiness of the Official FIA F1® Safety Car has been maintained at all times. From 2010 onwards, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG became the first series-production vehicle developed entirely in Affalterbach to serve as the Official FIA F1® Safety Car. Since 2022, this role has been fulfilled by the 730 hp Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

Despite all technological advancements, the mission remains unchanged: to serve as an indispensable component of Formula 1®’s safety framework.

Figures relating to the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG Official FIA F1® Safety Cars 

Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG Official FIA F1® Safety Cars since 1996

Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG Official FIA F1® Medical Cars since 1996

>> Review of the Official FIA F1® Safety Car’s more than 500 Grand Prix appearances

Interviews with Norbert Haug (Head of Motorsport at Mercedes-Benz from 1990 to 2012), Michael Bock (Head of Motorsport Marketing at Mercedes-Benz from 1991 to 2010), Bernd Mayländer (Official FIA F1® Safety Car Driver and AMG Brand Ambassador), and Christoph Sagemüller (Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport from 2021 until June 2026) will be released in three episodes on the Mercedes-AMG YouTube channel from 6:00 pm on Monday, 30 June. >> Mercedes-AMG YouTube

“The Official FIA F1® Safety Car represents far more than a strategic commitment for Mercedes-AMG. It embodies our deep-rooted motorsport heritage and our ambition to combine performance, safety and innovation at the very highest level. For 30 years, the brand with the star has been a trusted partner of Formula 1®, setting benchmarks for safety on race circuits around the world. The racing series has continued to evolve over this period – it has become faster, more technologically complex and more safety-focused. As a result, the demands placed on the Official Cars have also grown steadily. Our commitment, however, has remained the same: every safety car is developed with the utmost precision, thoroughly tested and deployed precisely when maximum performance and the highest level of safety are required.”
Simon Wilbers, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

“When I first took to the Formula 1® track in the Official FIA F1® Safety Car in 2000, I could never have imagined how this role would evolve. Back then, it was 350 horsepower; today, it’s 730 horsepower. You can feel Mercedes-AMG’s commitment to excellence and its high standards for both itself and the Official FIA F1® Safety Car in every single kilometre. And we’re not at the end yet – the limits continue to be pushed further and further.”
Bernd Mayländer, Official FIA F1® Safety Car Driver & AMG Brand Ambassador

“The fact that it all began 30 years ago is testament to both the quality of the vehicles and the driver. Over the years, Bernd Mayländer has completed more than 500 deployments at the wheel of Formula 1®’s lead vehicle, performing under immense pressure without a single mistake. When Bernie Ecclestone approached me at the Monaco Grand Prix back then, I promised that we would find a solution quickly. That solution remains in place to this day. In three decades, there has not been a single accident or even the slightest mishap. A brand could hardly demonstrate its commitment to safety more effectively on the international stage. As the driver of the Safety Car, Bernd Mayländer embodies complete confidence and professionalism. Being entrusted with the most important vehicle during the neutralisation of a Formula 1® race is a continuous mark of distinction for him, while at the same time continuously reinforcing the reputations of both Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG.”
Norbert Haug, Head of Motorsport at Mercedes-Benz, 1990–2012