Start of Formula 1 Season Upon Us

Don't forget this weekend's opening round of the Formula One World Driving Championship from Bahrain, broadcast live on SPEED channel Sunday, March 14th at 7:30 am EDT, (remember the clocks jump forward this Saturday night), and look for the SLS AMG Safety car sitting proudly at the front of the grid. Catch live coverage of practice at 6:00 am Friday and qualifying Saturday at 7:30 am on SPEED.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

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

Breaking News: Michael Schumacher Will Race for Mercedes-Benz in 2010

After weeks of speculation Mercedes-Benz confirmed on Wednesday that Michael Schumacher will make a comeback to race for the team next season alongside fellow German Nico Rosberg.
Schumacher, who retired at the end of 2006, has signed a deal that will see him return to the Formula One grid at the age of 41, bidding to add to his record tally of 91 wins and seven world titles.
It follows a planned comeback earlier this year for Ferrari - the team with which he won his last five drivers’ championships - to replace the injured Felipe Massa. Those plans had to be abandoned because of a neck injury from a motorbike accident.
Now fully fit, Schumacher will revive his relationship with Mercedes-Benz, a company with whom he had close ties earlier in his career. The German carmaker recently purchased the 2009 title-winning Brawn GP team, retaining team principal Ross Brawn, who previously helped lead Schumacher to title glory at Benetton and Ferrari.
"Mercedes GP Petronas represents a new challenge for me both in a sporting and a personal context,” said Schumacher. “It is a new chapter in my racing career and I am really looking forward to working with my old friend Ross Brawn and my companions from my days with the Mercedes Junior Programme.
“I am convinced that together we will be involved in the fight for the Formula One World Championship next year and I am already looking forward to getting back onto the race track. For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes-Benz supported me for so many years when I began my Formula One career and now I can hopefully give something back to the brand with the star."
Ross Brawn commented: "I am delighted that we can confirm today that Michael will make his much-anticipated return to Formula One next year and drive for our Mercedes GP Petronas team. As seven-time world champion, Michael's outstanding record in Formula One speaks for itself and I am looking forward to working with him again.
“With the completion of our driver line-up, I believe that we now have the most exciting partnership in Formula One with Michael and Nico, who provide the perfect mix of talent, experience, speed and youth. We can now turn our full attention to the preparations for the new season and everyone at Mercedes GP Petronas is extremely excited about the challenge ahead.”

Source: (formula1.com)

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website