SLS AMG is the new F1 Safety Car

When the new Petronas Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Team, the first factory Mercedes GP Team since 1955, makes its debut at the season opening Bahrain GP on the 14th of March a new AMG car will be sitting at the head of the grid in its position as Official Formula One Safety Car... the SLS AMG.

Driven by our friend and AMG Driving Academy Team member Bernd Maylander, the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car is only modified slightly from the street version that goes on sale in the US this spring.

With 571 hp (DIN) it is the most powerful F1 Safety Car yet in a tradition that goes back to 1994 when AMG supplied the first Safety Car for F1, a C36 AMG. Again created in the AMG Performance Studio the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car features AMG Carbon Ceramic brakes which are also available on the street car. Unfortunately the special LED lighting system is not.

Again for 2010 a C63 AMG Wagon serves as the F1 Medical Car that follows the field around the first lap and is available for quick response to an accident scene during the race as well.

Along with the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car, and C63 AMG Medical Car there will be 6 Mercedes powered race cars in the field:

Petronas Mercedes GP- drivers: Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes- drivers: Lewis Hamilton, World Champion Jenson Button

Force India Mercedes: drivers: Adrian Suthil, Vitantonio Liuzzi with AMG DTM driver Paul Di Resta as reserve driver.

All Formula One races are televised in the US on Speed Channel. Check local listings.

The AMG Teams will be kicking off their season in the DTM at Hockenheim on April 25th.

The AMG and Mercedes-Benz Motorsport tradition continues.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website