Formula 1's Safety Car for the 2018 campaign has been unveiled, a few days before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Going into their 23rd year partnering F1, Mercedes will be bringing the most state-of-the-art Safety Car to lead the field around the race track when it is required to do so, often due to an accident on-track or poor weather conditions.
The AMG GT R was developed around the Nurburgring in order to have the characteristics of a GT3 race car. Boasting a lightweight 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine, it will also have the output of 430 kW (585 hp) and a top speed of 318 km/h in order to maintain control of the F1 field when out on the race track.
"I am very much looking forward to my new company car. It is an absolute highlight in terms of driving dynamics and is one level higher up still than the AMG GT S of recent years," said Bernd Mayländer, who will again be the driver of the Official FIA F1 Safety Car in the new season.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-120x86.webp)
"Of course, ideally the Safety Car should be deployed as rarely as possible – but when we have to safely bunch up the Formula 1 field and lead it around the track, we will be superbly equipped with the AMG GT R."
Plenty of detail has been added to the AMG GT R, including a larger front and rear wing to increase grip and attain higher cornering speeds, a large rear aerofoil and the rear apron with double diffuser to increase the aerodynamic efficiency and help ensure optimum grip.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-350x250.webp)
