Mercedes Fields SLS AMG and C63 AMG Estate as F1 Safety Cars

Just two more days until the Formula 1 season really begins in Australia. Mercedes-Benz is supplying the safety car yet again this season, and this season the safety cars will be an SLS AMG and C63 AMG Estate.

No mechanical changes are made to the safety cars with the exception of a louder exhaust. The light bar on the cars incorporate front and rear TV cameras. The rear-facing camera is so that the safety car drivers can keep an eye on the cars behind them. Inside not much is different. There is a six-point harness, the lighting controls, a radio system and an lcd monitor for the camera.

The C63 AMG Estate medical car gets a 30hp boost to 487hp thanks to forged pistons, connecting rods and lightened crankshaft from the SLS AMG. The car has a driver, doctor and two medical professionals in it at all times. 

Sports car racer Bernd Mayländer took over for Oliver Gavin as Formula 1 safety car driver in 2000 and has driven every season since then. He co-drove the CLK-GTR in the FIA GT series in 1997 winning two races. He also co-drove the 911 GT3 R in the 2000 24 Hours of the Nürburgring that won the race. From 2001 to 2004, he drove in the DTM series. 

As safety car driver, Mayländer and his co-driver Pete Tibbetts have to stay in constant contact with race control. They also drive the safety car for the GP2 and GP3 series during the race weekend. 

Mayländer is also a driving instructor at the AMG Driving Academy. 

Last season, the safety car was deployed 12 times in Formula 1. It was most used at the Canadian Grand Prix due to heavy rain. The car covered 32 laps, which was the largest percentage of a race in Formula 1 history.