Mercedes-AMG reaches milestone of 500 F1 races as Safety Car | United States GP. Mercedes-AMG will celebrate its 500th Formula 1 Grand Prix as the official Safety Car.

Mercedes-AMG celebrates 500 races as F1 Safety Car in Austin

500 Grand Prix milestone

The Austin weekend brings an extra reason for celebration for Mercedes. Regardless of how the race develops or its final outcome, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer will reach the milestone of 500 Grand Prix appearances as Formula 1’s official Safety Car.

Since 1996, when F1 decided to standardize a specific Safety Car instead of leaving the choice to individual circuits, Mercedes immediately became the benchmark for this role, operating in a near-monopoly until 2021. That year, Aston Martin joined the program, creating an alternating system between the two vehicles that continues today, depending on the occasion and the Grand Prix.

A historic moment

The United States Grand Prix will therefore be the perfect occasion to celebrate this historic milestone for a car – the Safety Car – that has played a key role in F1’s evolution over the last 30 years. Once a simple tool for track safety, the Safety Car has now become, rightly or wrongly, an incidental but crucial part of races, often representing a major strategic factor.

Toto Wolff comments

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed his pride in this achievement on behalf of the brand: “We are also delighted to celebrate this weekend the 500th Grand Prix of Mercedes-AMG as the Safety Car,” said the Austrian manager. “This milestone reflects the company’s commitment to the pinnacle of motorsport, as well as the longevity, technical innovation, and beauty of our cars.”