A regular fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since 1999, the Sepang circuit was the first of the government-funded, Hermann Tilke-designed venues that now prevail in the sport. Several high-speed changes of direction, coupled with long straights and tight hairpins, make the 5.543km track a thorough workout. Good car balance is vital and it’s no coincidence that the winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix has gone on to win the world title for the past three seasons.
The heat and humidity of the tropics add another dimension to this race. Blistering track and ambient temperatures make it hard on tyres, tough on drivers and one of the most physically difficult races for all F1 personnel.
Race distance - 56 laps (192.879 miles / 310.408kms) Start time - 16:00 (local)/08:00 (GMT) Circuit length - 5.543km/3.444 miles 2011 winner - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 56 laps in 1hr 37m 39.382s (190.699km/h) 2011 pole - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 1m34.870s (210.338km/h) Lap record - Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams FW26) 1m34.223s (211.782km/h)
McLaren at the Malaysian Grand Prix Wins: 2 (2003, 2007) Poles: - Fastest laps: 4 (2000, ’01, ’05, ’07)
Victory in Australia was the best possible way to start the season – how do you feel going in to Malaysia?
“Calm, refreshed and feeling extremely positive. After the race, people asked me if we’d expected to demonstrate the pace that we did in Australia, and I tell them that it was unexpected. Of course, we’d done our sums after winter testing, but you can never be certain whether another team is running with high-fuel or hiding their true pace. So to come away from race one with such a positive result – Vodafone McLaren Mercedes took pole, fastest lap and the victory – is a huge relief for the organisation.
“But it’s also incredibly motivating: we know we have a great car but we’re not going to sit still with it. We have ambitious plans to develop the car and I know that everybody back at Woking is working hard to bring new components to the track, and that all our mechanics and engineers are flat-out to ensure that we maximise the package that we have this weekend. I think everybody knows that we are a relentless organisation; we can develop a car as well – if not better than – any other team. The difference this year is that we’ve started with a winning package; the challenge will be to maintain that, and I know that’s something we’re all really looking forward to doing.”
You won Malaysia in 2009, and you finished second here last year – is it a circuit you like?
“It is. It’s more of a high-speed circuit [than Melbourne], there are some fantastic sweeping corners here and, if the car’s working properly, it’s a real joy to drive. It’s one of the toughest circuits on the calendar because there’s a real range of corners, cambers, a couple of blind apexes and a little bit of gradient. If the car’s working against you, then it becomes painful, but when it’s all switched on, it’s just a great, great circuit to drive.
“I think we’ve got a car that really works well in the high-speed stuff – we saw that throughout winter testing. So I think the challenge this weekend will be to find the right balance – at this stage in the year, you’re still learning about the car and how to get the best from it. But I think the engineers understand how our car is strong – I know they’re really looking forward to extracting the maximum from it in Sepang this weekend.”
Your victory in Australia was relatively unflustered, are you expecting a stronger challenge this weekend?
“As we said repeatedly throughout last year, and we saw time and again with Sebastian [Vettel], if you can qualify strongly and get away cleanly then it’s much easier to control the field, to race cleanly and to get a representative result.
“I think the race showed that there are several top teams in Formula 1, and I think we can expect them to be fighting for victory in Malaysia. Both Red Bull drivers were very quick in the race, and I think we can expect further strong challenges from Mercedes AMG and Lotus this weekend.
“Of course, we’re not relaxing – and we go to Malaysia ready for a strong fight.”
Car 4: Lewis Hamilton - Age: 27 (January 7 1985) - GPs: 91 - Wins: 17 - Poles: 20 - FLs: 11
After Australia, you said you weren’t sure how you’d lost pace relative to Jenson: do you now understand that, and does that put you in a good position for Malaysia?
“Yeah, after the race in Australia, it was difficult to understand exactly what happened. I was generally happy with the car all weekend, but just lacked a bit of pace compared to Jenson in the race. Afterwards, I sat down with my engineers and we went through all the data. There was a small issue with the clutch at the start: it wasn’t my fault, but we now understand and know how to improve in the future. My race pace was pretty much identical to Jenson’s, but he was able to switch the tyres on extremely well, which explains how he was able to pull a gap so quickly at the start and also after the restart.
“It’s encouraging and reassuring to understand the reasons for our race pace in Australia, and it puts me in a really positive frame of mind for the race in Malaysia. Plus, it always helps to be back in the car only five days after the last grand prix – you move on so quickly.”
You’ve never won in Malaysia – does that make you more intent to tick it off your list?
“It’s never really something you’re particularly conscious of during the race weekend, but I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d love to win a grand prix at every circuit I race at. You’re right, I’ve not won at Sepang before, but I’ve had some good races here – and I’d like to put the record straight with a victory this weekend.
“I think we go into the weekend feeling pretty optimistic because Sepang is quite a high-speed circuit and our car has usually gone well in the high-speed stuff during winter testing. Sepang will also be a test because of the high temperatures, but we’ve traditionally been able to manage the cooling on our car quite well, so I don’t think that will be too much of a concern.
“Physically, it’s always a tough race, but we’re improving the organisation in every area, and I think we’ve taken some interesting steps this year to ensure the whole team will be better prepared for the heat and humidity.”
Will we get a clearer picture of overall pace this weekend?
“Clearly, we’re very encouraged by our pace, both in qualifying and in the race, and I’d like to think we can continue that at Malaysia this weekend. I think both Mercedes AMG and Red Bull Racing have performance up their sleeves, and they’ll both be very fast in qualifying and the race. As far as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is concerned, it’s nice to be the hunted rather than the hunter, which has been the case in the past few seasons.
“But I know how well our team can respond – the result in Australia will only double everyone’s resolve. The development race has already started and we’ll be pushing like crazy to stay at the front. I think Malaysia will add detail to the overall picture, but it’s the pace of development – between ourselves, Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus and Ferrari – that will define the course of the season.”
Martin Whitmarsh Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“Everybody within Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was tremendously buoyed by our performance in Melbourne last weekend. As we all know, a Formula 1 winter is incredibly tense as it’s almost impossible to know if the targets you’ve set internally will set the standard or leave you wanting.
“Happily, we were delighted to discover that MP4-27 has been successfully developed into a race-winning package – and that’s a source of huge pleasure, and huge relief, for the whole team.
“Of course, nobody sits still in Formula 1 and we head to Malaysia mindful that we’ll once again receive a stern challenge from our closest rivals – most notably Red Bull Racing and Mercedes AMG, both of whom will have points to prove this weekend.
“Sepang was one of the original ‘new world’ Formula 1 circuits and one that triggered the sport’s global expansion into Asia at the start of the millennium. I’m pleased that it remains a mainstay of the calendar, but also that it has developed a character and history of its own. It’s an extremely demanding circuit – on both the cars and the drivers – and a real challenge.
“We’ve enjoyed some highs and lows here, but I think we’re all looking forward to understanding how this unique season will continue to unwind this weekend.”
How McLaren defined seven days in the history of the Malaysian Grand Prix
1. October 17 1999
Mika Hakkinen finishes third in the inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix, frustrated by Ferrari’s bid to keep Eddie Irvine in the title hunt by using Michael Schumacher to control the race. Mika wraps up the title two weeks later in Suzuka.
2. October 22 2000
A brilliant race by David Coulthard sees him finish second, just 0.7s behind Michael Schumacher. Mika finishes fourth, sealing McLaren’s second place in the constructors’ championship.
3. March 23 2003
Kimi Raikkonen’s first win in Formula 1. The youngster charges from seventh on the grid to win by a mighty 39s from Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello – it is the first of the Finn’s 18 grand prix wins.
4. March 20 2005
McLaren don’t win this race, but the pace of Raikkonen’s MP4-20 is astounding. After suffering a mid-race puncture, he blasts back through the field to finish ninth, setting fastest lap.
5. April 8 2007
Fernando Alonso’s first win for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. He leads home Lewis Hamilton in a dominant one-two for the team. It’s a great race for Lewis too, who outfoxes Felipe Massa in a tense early battle and sets his first fastest lap in F1.
6. April 5 2009
Light rain starts to fall on lap 22 and the subsequent deluge results in the race being stopped on lap 31. It isn’t re-started due to failing light, so half-points are awarded. Lewis is the first Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver home in seventh place.
7. April 10 2011
Jenson Button starts fourth and, exhibiting the maturity and long-sightedness that is to define his season, looks after his tyres to take a tenacious runner-up position – his first podium of the year.
The Malaysian Grand Prix holds the unique distinction of being the only Grand Prix circuit at which the Safety Car has not been officially deployed in the past ten years - in spite of often unpredictable weather conditions. With Mercedes-AMG once again supplying both the Official F1™ Safety Car and Official F1™ Medical Car for 2012 - the 17th season in which it has done so - it’s the perfect opportunity to look at how often this race-changing factor comes into play…
How much was the Safety Car used in 2011? Last season saw the Safety Car deployed for 4.9% of the season - a total of 12 deployments, over seven races, for 61 laps or 284.3 kilometres. This compares to 21 deployments in 12 races in 2010, for a total of 7.8% of the season over 452.3 kilometres. This reduction was in spite of a significant increase in on-track overtaking through the combination of the Pirelli tyres and DRS rear wing system. However, while there was an overall reduction in Safety Car deployments, the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix featured five Safety Car phases over 32 laps, or 139.6 kilometres: this represented 45.7% of the race distance, a record in Formula One.
Which races feature the highest and lowest probabilities of Safety Car deployment? The races with the highest historical probability of Safety Car deployment are in Singapore and Korea: every race held at these venues has seen at least one deployment (four races in Singapore, two in Korea). Canada (14 deployments in last nine races) and Monaco (13 deployments in last ten races) also feature prominently. As for the lowest likelihood, aside from the Indian circuit which has only hosted a single race, this is in Malaysia (no official deployments in the past ten years), Bahrain (one deployment in seven races) and Hungary (two deployments in last ten races).
Wasn’t the Safety Car deployed during the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix? The Safety Car was indeed deployed on lap 32 of the race, before the event was red flagged on lap 33. However, the official race results only run to lap 31, so the Safety Car deployment is not considered for statistical purposes.
Which cars are used for the Official F1™ Safety Car and Official F1™ Medical Car? The Official F1™ Safety Car is the SLS AMG, with a 6.3-litre V8 engine developing a peak output of 420 kW (571 hp) at 6800 rpm and maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. The engine, power train, suspension and braking system of the Safety Car are the same as those found in the standard production SLS AMG. The Official F1™ Medical Car is the C 63 AMG Estate, which produces 358 kW (487 hp) - an extra 30 hp compared to the standard model thanks to forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshaft from the SLS AMG. These components are three kilograms lighter than standard. The first Mercedes-AMG Safety and Medical Cars were the C 36 AMG, which was first used in 1996, although an AMG E-Class Coupe was occasionally used as the Medical Car as early as 1984.
111 years of sporting success
March 25 1901 was a Monday - a strange day for a motor race, to modern eyes. But in spite of inclement weather in the South of France, the second day of the 1901 Nice Speed Weeks saw the race for “speed cars” held over a route from Nice to Salon, and back; a total of 392.5 km on open roads. This was the first major outing of the year for the new Daimler competition vehicles, newly christened ‘Mercedes’ after one of the daughters of importer Emil Jellinek.
The new cars had attempted to race in Pau the previous month, but had failed shortly after the start. However, the Nice-Salon-Nice race proved more successful: driver Wilhelm Werner (mechanic to the Baron Henri de Rothschild) led by 12 minutes at the halfway point, and eventually won - after a bruising 6 hours, 45 minutes and 48 seconds of racing - by the healthy margin of 26 minutes and 10 seconds (by way of comparison, this would represent a lead of nearly 6 minutes in a 1.5 hour modern Grand Prix!), at an average of 58.1 kph.
Sunday marks the 111th anniversary of the first competition success for a Mercedes vehicle; in the intervening years, Mercedes - which became Mercedes-Benz in 1926 - has set new benchmarks in every series in which it has raced. Last Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix marked the 89th Formula One victory for Mercedes-Benz power, and the 36th win for the current generation of V8 engine, continuing a heritage that is longer than any other in the sport.
Round two of the 2012 Formula One World Championship takes the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team to Malaysia, home of the team’s title partner PETRONAS. The PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday 25 March at the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit, just outside of Kuala Lumpur.
• The run from pole to the apex of turn one is 660 metres long - the second longest of the season after Barcelona. • Half of the last ten races in Malaysia have been won from pole; the highest winning grid position was P7, in 2003. • The last ten Malaysian Grands Prix have featured no official Safety Car deployments (the 2009 race is not considered as it officially ran to only 31 laps).
Michael Schumacher “After the disappointment of how the first race in Melbourne turned out, I am flying to Malaysia with a big sense of anticipation, because we saw in Australia that our car is capable of putting us in the mix. Of course, we haven’t forgotten that the circuit in Melbourne is not really representative of the true competitive picture, but nevertheless the car gives me a good feeling for the season ahead. Sepang will be interesting for everybody because it will be the first clue to the real relative strengths of all the cars. The range of slow and fast corners give a good indication of where you are, which always makes the race in Malaysia fun for the drivers and engineers, and overall a big challenge for both man and machine. I’m looking forward to it.”
Nico Rosberg “I always look forward to coming to Malaysia for the Grand Prix. Sepang is one of my absolute favourite tracks on the calendar and it is the home race of our friends from PETRONAS. The circuit has two long straights which should suit us this year, and the conditions will be very demanding as always due to the high heat and humidity. I’m confident that we can improve our performance here, and we will have a successful weekend in front of all our Malaysian supporters.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal “The Malaysian Grand Prix is always a special race for the team as the home race of our title partner PETRONAS. As always, the support that PETRONAS provides to Formula One, both to our team and to the promotion of the sport and the Grand Prix in Malaysia, has been fantastic, and we are all looking forward to a busy and successful week. Despite a positive start, our first race weekend of the season in Australia did not turn out as we would have wished, and there has been, and will continue to be, a lot of hard work done before we take to the track again in Malaysia. We have a fundamentally good car, now it is up to us to optimise its performance and achieve its potential on track.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport “Last weekend in Melbourne, we began the race well, with our cars running third and fourth, and ended it badly, with Michael retiring from P3, while Nico suffered a puncture on the last lap after contact with another car while fighting for sixth place. Before this, Nico´s lap times were affected by higher levels of tyre degradation than ourselves and Pirelli had expected from testing and the practice sessions in Melbourne. Our team will be working hard to understand and, where possible, correct this before the next race in Malaysia. Our title partner PETRONAS is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and they are strong supporters of Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities in Formula One, DTM and our Formula 3 junior programme. However PETRONAS is much more than a title partner and element of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team name. Thanks to their hard work, the continuous development of fuels and oils has also brought valuable tenths of a second in lap time improvements. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz and PETRONAS are close business partners in many countries around the world, with notable success. Together, we are working to achieve similar successes in Formula One and, with the potential our car has shown in pre-season testing and in qualifying and the opening stages of the race in Melbourne, we are now working in a focused manner to convert this into strong race results.”
Mercedes-AMG is set to feature prominently in the 2012 Formula 1 season: the opening race in Melbourne, Australia (16 - 18 March 2012) will not only witness the debut of the newly christened MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team, but also the return of the Official F1™ Safety Car and the Official F1™ Medical Car from Mercedes-AMG. The SLS AMG and C 63 AMG Estate ensure maximum safety in extreme conditions.
The gullwing model, with its characteristic roof lights and distinctive FIA and F1 logos on its aluminium body, has been deployed in the role of official Safety Car for Formula 1 since 2010. As soon as Race Control considers that the safe progress of the race may be impeded, it sends the SLS AMG out onto the track. "Poor weather conditions or accidents are the main reasons for deploying the Safety Car," according to Bernd Mayländer, driver of the Official F1™ Safety Car. "We remain on standby in the pits and receive the order to go out onto the track via radio. Then it's a case of leading the field safely around the circuit until the dangerous situation has been dealt with."
Bernd Mayländer has driven the Official F1™ Safety Car since 2000
The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) has entrusted the task of driving the Safety Car to 40 year-old racer Bernd Mayländer since 2000. When the Formula 1 calendar permits, Mayländer, a native of Schorndorf, Germany also works as an instructor for the AMG Driving Academy and attends selected events as a Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador. Mayländer's co-driver in the Safety Car is FIA associate Pete Tibbetts (45 years old, from Great Britain), who remains in permanent radio contact with Race Control. The SLS AMG Official F1™ Safety Car is also on call throughout the race weekend for the majority of the accompanying race series, such as the GP2 and GP3 Series and the Porsche Supercup.
A significant change in the 2012 season involves lapped vehicles during a Safety Car phase: they will be allowed to overtake the Safety Car after the Race Control has given the appropriate signal. By allowing them to gain their lap back, the natural race order of the cars will be restored, something which should allow for more equal opportunities when the race restarts.
Safety Car deployed twelve times in the 2011 Formula 1 season
In the 2011 Formula 1 season, the SLS AMG Official F1™ Safety Car was deployed twelve times, covering a total distance of 284.3 kilometres. At the Canadian Grand Prix in June 2011, there were no less than 5 Safety Car phases owing to extreme heavy rain and accidents. The SLS AMG covered some 32 laps, or 139.6 km, at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit – a greater percentage than ever before in the history of Formula 1. At the Monaco Grand Prix there were two Safety Car phases, while the Grands Prix in Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Japan and Korea each had just one Safety Car phase. The absolute record for the deployment of the Safety Car in a season stands at 21 outings, a figure which was reached in 2010. The total distance covered by the car during that season was 452.3 km.
Technology based on the standard SLS AMG
Over the past few years, the SLS AMG has proved itself to be an ideal Safety Car. According to Bernd Mayländer: "Its low kerb weight, low centre of gravity and balanced weight distribution are combined with a powerful AMG V8 engine and dual clutch transmission in a transaxle arrangement – for me, as a racing driver, the SLS AMG impresses with outstanding balance and excellent driveability, even in difficult weather conditions."
No technical changes have been made or weight-saving measures applied to the Official F1™ Safety Car. The engine, power train, suspension and braking system of the Safety Car are the same as those found in the standard production SLS AMG. The only exception is the newly developed exhaust – designed to provide an even more emotionally-charged sound experience, as a tribute to the Formula 1 fans both at the race track and those watching on TV.
The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine achieves a peak output of 420 kW (571 hp) at 6800 rpm and a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm, enabling the gullwing model to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. Fast lap times are a matter of course for the Official F1™ Safety Car, otherwise the Formula 1 cars' tyres and brakes would cool down too quickly, while their engines could overheat.
Maximum driving dynamics thanks to a unique vehicle concept
The SLS AMG's outstanding driving dynamics come courtesy of its perfect sports car heritage: thanks to an aluminium spaceframe body, the Official F1™ Safety Car tips the scales at just 1620 kg (DIN kerb weight). And thanks again to the dry-sump lubrication system, a very low installation of the AMG V8 has been achieved, resulting in the vehicle's low centre of gravity. The installed position of the engine behind the front axle, and the transaxle arrangement of the transmission on the rear axle, have a positive effect on the weight distribution, which is 47/53 percent (front/rear). The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission with dual-clutch technology enables short shifting times, while the integrated mechanical multi-disc differential lock, together with the 3-stage ESP®, ensures outstanding traction.
When it comes to the suspension, AMG has opted for an aluminium double-wishbone arrangement. Usually found in racing cars, this technology offers a number of benefits such as high cornering limits, precise turn-in ability, first-class agility and low mass inertia during fast changes in direction. Braking distances are minimised and resistance to fading is maximised, even when the vehicle is subject to typical race track loads, thanks to the high-performance AMG ceramic composite braking system. The SLS AMG also features weight-optimised 10-spoke forged wheels fitted with size 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear) tyres.
Aerodynamically optimised roof light bar incorporating LED technology
The major distinguishing visual feature between the standard production SLS AMG and the Official F1™ Safety Car is the roof light bar. It boasts an aerodynamically efficient profile and sits on a carbon-fibre hood whose special shape ensures optimum airflow over the rear aerofoil, which pops up at speeds above 120 km/h. All of the bar's light functions are handled by LEDs which offer a fast response time and low power consumption.
- Green: the two centrally positioned green lights on the front and rear are lit up when the gullwing model joins the field at the start of a Safety Car phase. Permanent green is the signal for all Formula 1 drivers to overtake the Safety Car.
- Orange: as soon as the Safety Car has positioned itself in front of all of the Formula 1 racing cars, the green LEDs are switched off and the orange LEDs are switched on. The flashing orange lights on the outer ends of the bar indicate that no overtaking whatsoever is allowed.
The roof light bar also incorporates a TV camera, and a second camera located next to the rear number plate allows the driver and co-driver to keep an eye on the Formula 1 cars behind via a monitor in the cockpit. The special number plate on the rear, with "Safety Car" lettering and 700 green LEDs, provides additional safety in darkness or wet weather. Another important feature is the stroboscopic lights in the headlamps and tail lights. They are activated permanently and provide a general signalling function while the Safety Car is being deployed.
Interior featuring special communication tools
Just as with the exterior and the technology, the interior of the Safety Car is not much different from that of the standard production model. Anyone opening the gullwing doors will discover two AMG sports bucket seats with black leather upholstery. They are also available as an option for the standard SLS AMG and provide optimum lateral support. Six-point seat belts also ensure optimum safety for the vehicle's occupants.
On the right side of the AMG DRIVE UNIT there are four coloured buttons for controlling the various light functions, along with the signal horn, which for safety reasons is activated when the car is entering and leaving the pit lane. The centre console is also finished in carbon-fibre, as are other areas of interior trim. The AMG Performance steering wheel in leather/Alcantara has a specially contoured grip area, a high-grade metal insert and a 370 mm-diameter rim with a flattened lower section. The seven gears of the dual-clutch transmission are changed using the two high-grade metal shift paddles.
Two central monitors in the cockpit are used to monitor the progress of the race. To the left and right of the lower monitor are the controls for the radio system, which allows Bernd Mayländer and Pete Tibbetts to communicate with Race Control as well as with each other. A second interior mirror lets the co-driver keep an eye on the Formula 1 cars behind. Meanwhile, the "Marshalling System" is integrated into the central display on the instrument cluster and in the lid of the glove compartment: here the driver and co-driver can see exactly the same signals as the Formula 1 drivers in their cockpits.
For instance, the various LEDs indicate when yellow or green flags are being waved. LEDs indicating the status of the roof light bar, along with an on-board camera angled towards Bernd Mayländer and Pete Tibbetts, are mounted at the front end of the dashboard.
C 63 AMG Estate is once again the Official F1™ Medical Car
To accompany the SLS AMG Official F1™ Safety Car in the 2012 season, Mercedes-AMG is once again also providing the Official F1™ Medical Car. As in the previous years from 2008 to 2011, the C 63 AMG Estate will be responsible for ensuring a rapid emergency response in the event of an accident. The Medical Car also follows the Formula 1 field during the initial lap, when the racing cars are still bunched extremely closely together during this critical phase of the race.
Just like the SLS AMG, the C 63 AMG Estate is ideally equipped to provide outstanding driving dynamics. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine includes the AMG Performance package and produces 358 kW (487 hp). The AMG engine specialists succeeded in achieving the extra 22 kW (30 hp) compared with the standard variant thanks to a technology transfer from the SLS AMG: the forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshaft have been adopted from the drive system of the gullwing model. The lower inertia of the components, which are three kilograms lighter, allows the naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine to rev freely and respond with even more agility. Distinguishing features of the AMG Performance package include the variable intake manifold, which lurks beneath the bonnet in a titanium grey paint finish. Available as an optional extra for any C 63 AMG, it helps to accelerate the vehicle from zero to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds (Estate: 4.5 s). The power of the Official F1™ Medical Car is transferred via the standard AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission, with wet start-up clutch, four driving modes, a double-declutch and a RACE START function.
Outstanding driving dynamics are also ensured by the adjustable coil-over suspension, the AMG light-alloy wheels, painted in matt black with high-sheen rims and fitted with size 235/35 R 19 (front) and 255/30 R 19 (rear) tyres, the differential lock and the 3-stage ESP®. Maximum durability is provided by the optimised coolant, engine oil, transmission fluid and power steering fluid cooling. Invisibly but unmistakably, the characteristic AMG V8 sound is emitted from the special rear silencers of the AMG sports exhaust system.
Visually, the Medical Car is similar to the Safety Car: the light bar on the roof, the FIA and F1‑logos, the stroboscopic LED lights at the front and rear, and the rear number plate illuminated with LEDs and with "Medical Car" lettering, differentiate the special Estate model from the standard production vehicle. To ensure the best possible airflow to the radiator, the AMG front apron also has larger intake openings and side air vents.
Plenty of space in the boot for emergency equipment
The Official F1™ Medical Car is driven by racing driver Alan van der Merwe (32 years old, from South Africa); his co-driver is the official FIA Grand Prix Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Hartstein (57 years old, from Belgium). Two assisting medical experts from a specially selected clinic near the race track sit in the rear. Four AMG sports bucket seats with six-point seat belts, two monitors integrated into the centre console for monitoring the race and a radio set for communicating with Race Control distinguish the interior of the Official F1™ Medical Car from that of the standard production C 63 AMG Estate. There is plenty of space for all of the emergency equipment – including a defibrillator and respiration apparatus – in the 485-litre luggage area of the C 63 AMG Estate.
AMG Performance Studio responsible for development
The development, track-testing and configuration of the two Official F1™ Safety Cars and the two Official F1™ Medical Cars – in both cases, there is one emergency vehicle and one replacement vehicle – are carried out by the specialists from the AMG Performance Studio in close collaboration with the test team for AMG overall vehicle development. This involves drawing on over 40 years of motorsport know-how, as well as a wealth of experience in the design of high-performance sports cars. Numerous test sessions were conducted on various race tracks in order to tune the suspension and verify all of the systems and components. Two highly-qualified AMG technicians are also on hand to take responsibility for the deployment of the Safety Car and Medical Car at all Formula 1 races in the 2012 season.
AMG has provided the Safety Cars and Medical Cars for 16 years
AMG has extensive experience in the design, development and deployment of the Official F1™ Safety Car and Official F1™ Medical Car. The Affalterbach-based company has been active in the top echelons of international motorsport since 1996.
All AMG Safety Cars at a glance
1996: C 36 AMG (W 202) from 1997: CLK 55 AMG (C 208) 2000: CL 55 AMG (C 215) from 2001: SL 55 AMG (R 230) 2003: CLK 55 AMG (C 209) from 2004: SLK 55 AMG (R 171) from 2006: CLK 63 AMG (C 209) from 2008: SL 63 AMG (R 230) since 2010: SLS AMG (C 197)
All AMG Medical Cars at a glance
1996: C 36 AMG (W 202) 1997: C 36 AMG (W 202); E 60 AMG (W 210) from 1998: C 55 AMG Estate (S 202) from 2001: C 32 AMG Estate (S 203) from 2004: C 55 AMG Estate (S 203) since 2008: C 63 AMG Estate (S 204)
As early as 1984, an AMG E-Class Coupé with a V8 engine was occasionally used as the Medical Car. The activities of Mercedes-AMG are also evidence of Mercedes-Benz's longstanding commitment to Formula 1.
The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship gets underway in Melbourne next week with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Hosted at the beautiful Albert Park for the 17th consecutive year, the 5.303 km street circuit is located south of Melbourne city centre, and uses public roads surrounding the man-made Albert Park lake.
• From 2002 - 2011, the winner of the Australian Grand Prix has gone on to become World Champion seven times • DRS can be used over 56% of the lap distance in qualifying, a total of 2970 metres • The Safety Car has been deployed in six of the last ten Australian Grands Prix on a total of 15 occasions • Mercedes-Benz power has won three of the last four Australian Grands Prix (2008, 2009, 2010)
Michael Schumacher “Finally, we can stop trying to read the tea-leaves from testing and actually go racing. Melbourne is a perfect location, and the ideal place to start the season. The city loves Formula One, the fans create a great atmosphere and obviously, as drivers, we feel that too. And because we’ve already got a buzz about what’s to come, it just makes you want to get out there and start driving. During winter testing, we completed lots of miles and built up a really complete set of data, which should put us in a good position for the first race and to develop the car even further in the right direction. We’re ready for the 2012 season to begin…”
Nico Rosberg “I’m really looking forward to the start of the new season in Australia next weekend. I had a perfect winter break with plenty of rest, a good training camp and a successful pre-season test programme where we were able to put a lot of mileage on our F1 W03 car. So we are really ready for the first race. I always love the atmosphere in Melbourne; it’s a great city and the fans are fantastic. After all of the hard work, and all of the speculation, it will be really interesting to see where we are on Saturday afternoon after qualifying. Before heading to Australia, I will be in New Zealand for a bike training camp to help me adjust to the time difference and the climate ‘Down Under’.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal “The build-up to the start of a new season is always an exciting time, no matter how many times you have experienced it, and everyone at the team is looking forward to the action getting underway in Melbourne next week. We are well prepared, both at the factory and on track, as a result of our structured development and testing plan, and I am confident that we are in a good position. How this translates to our performance relative to the competition is, of course, the key question and it will be interesting to see how it all shapes out next weekend. My thanks to all of the team at Brackley and Brixworth for their hard work and dedication over the winter months and I hope we will be able to reward them with a strong season. Melbourne has always been one of the atmospheric races on the calendar, and certainly one of my favourite cities to visit, so I look forward to a good week ahead.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport “It´s only a little over 100 days since Formula One was in Brazil for the final race of the 2011 season, but now we are ready for the 2012 season to begin and to get back to what we love best: going motor racing. Starting the third season with our Silver Arrows works team, we think we are better prepared than the two years before, which indicates that our learning process is heading in the right direction. The Mercedes F1 W03 has run reliably since its first run on 16 February, completed 4,450 km during pre-season testing, and achieved an average daily testing mileage of 472 km: this equates to an average of more than one and a half Grand Prix distances during each of the nine test days. Nico and Michael are both excited about the new season and highly motivated, while our team members back at base in Brackley and Brixworth and on track are working extremely hard to deliver both performance and reliability at the opening race. The whole team has done a good job in both areas this winter. After testing, we know we have a solid basis to work from and a good platform for development. Understandably, there is much speculation about the pecking order of the new season, and finally we will get a first answer on Saturday afternoon during qualifying in Melbourne, when everybody has to put their cards on the table. Before the first race of this long season, I would like to thank all our team members who have worked so hard and with dedication during the past months, with our clear target which is making the next step in improving our performance compared to our competitors. We aim to show that we have taken this step forward as the first part of a continuous process of improvement.”
Mercedes-Benz has once again called on the services of experienced DTM driver Susie Wolff for the 2012 season. The fastest woman in touring car racing has competed in the series since 2006 and started 63 DTM races to date.
In 2012, Wolff will drive the TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, continuing with Team Persson Motorsport, which she joined in 2008. Wolff was an instant hit with the fans when she made her debut at Hockenheim in 2006, finishing in the Top Ten.
The 29-year-old scored her first championship points with a seventh place in the 2010 Lausitzring race. She repeated the result that same year in the season finale at Hockenheim. Her most successful season so far was 2010 in which she scored four points – good enough for 13th in the drivers’ standings.
Susie Wolff:“Since making my DTM debut in 2006, I have always felt at home in the Mercedes-Benz family, so I am delighted that the relationship continues into 2012. I’m really motivated and I have been working hard all winter to prepare myself physically and mentally for what is bound to be a very close and competitive season; with the introduction of new cars and regulations, the playing field is going to be more level for all of the drivers. We now have three premium manufacturers lined up against each other – Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz – which promises to make the battle all the more intriguing and exciting.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:“Susie has set her sights very high for 2012 and cannot wait to get out there and achieve good results. I have often admired her speed in races, and there is not a single DTM driver or DTM champion around who has not had to contend with Susie’s fighting spirit on the racetrack. Provided she can secure a good position on the grid in our new-generation DTM C-Class Coupé, and get off the line well, then Susie will be even more of a force to be reckoned with in 2012. We are all looking forward to having Susie in our team of drivers for a seventh season -- and I am confident that seven will be her lucky number, you’ll see!”
Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg arrive in style at the launch site of their new cars for the upcoming season: the new F1 W03 single-seater meets the new SL 63 AMG sports roadster during the special premiere event organized at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. Both drivers together with Norbert Haug and Ross Brawn express their feelings on the new MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS title contender for this year, which is aimed to bring the Brackley-based team at the forefront of Formula 1. Hit play and enjoy the video!
The Formula One Sporting and Technical Regulations are constantly developing to respond to changes in the sport, improve the show and reduce costs. The 2012 season will be no exception to the rule and thus MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 Team experts express their view on the changes coming up this year. In this episode, they clarify regulations regarding driving etiquette, race suspension, crash tests and safety car.
Driving Etiquette
The regulations say:“Drivers may no longer leave the track without a justifiable reason, i.e. cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or in-laps to save time and fuel, and drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.”
The expert view - Ron Meadows, Sporting Director:“This is really a formal clarification of how the FIA expect the drivers to behave. There are actually two points… the first is that cutting chicanes or taking short-cuts can be a performance advantage due to running lower fuel levels in qualifying or getting back to the pits faster allowing you to leave your qualifying run later. The second point is aimed at drivers moving twice when racing another car. The FIA are happy for a second movement to defend your position as long as it is not done in the braking zone, and you leave at enough space for the challenging car to go to the outside without running out of track.”
Race Suspension
The regulations say:“There will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated. Cars which were in the pit lane when the race was suspended will now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in at the time of the race suspension.”
The expert view - Ron Meadows, Sporting Director:“The time limit has been brought in so that spectators and TV viewers will know the cut-off point for a race start.
This is a very fair rule as it allows cars that were in the pit lane during a race suspension not to be penalised through no fault of their own. Without this change of regulation, cars in the pit lane would have to join the back of the pack once they had restarted.”
Crash test
The regulation says:“There will be tougher side impact testing and new cars must now pass all required FIA crash tests prior to any on-track testing.”
The expert view - Kevin Taylor, Head of Composites Design:“Clearly the objective of this rule was to guarantee nobody was running an unsafe car in testing. The crash structures are significant aerodynamic parts so the Composite Department had to work extremely closely with the Aerodynamics Department so as to allow maximum development time in the wind tunnel whilst completing the crash test program on time .”
Safety car
The regulation says:“During a safety-car period, all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean re-start without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions.”
The expert view - Andrew Shovlin, Senior Race Engineer:“During 2010 and 2011 lapped cars were not allowed to overtake prior to a safety car restart. On occasions, particularly near the end of the race, this would result in the leaders getting tangled up with the back markers for the final laps of the race, who themselves were often racing whilst getting a string of blue flags. Good examples were at Interlagos in 2010 and Suzuka in 2011.
This often deprived the spectators of an exciting finish as it allowed some cars to build clear air whilst their competitors were bogged down in traffic. It was also confusing for those watching as the order of cars on track was not the actual race order. For 2012, once the cars have completed two laps under the safety car speed limit, any which are not on the lead lap are allowed to pass the leaders and drive around to the back of the grid.
This will have two important effects, firstly the cars directly behind the safety will line up in actual race order so when the race restarts they are in a position to overtake each other. Secondly, the majority of the field will be on the same racing lap, bunched together and with some of the cars on new tyres. Together with the DRS, this should create exciting racing in the midfield where cars on older tyres will be ahead of cars that have stopped for fresh rubber who are trying to battle their way up the order for points.”
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has recently issued an official press statement on the reveal of the new single-seater which the team competes with in the 2012 Formula 1 season. The MP4-27 will be revealed during a launch event taking place at a special location to be announced after we enter the new year. The Britons will test their new F1 car during the first pre-season winter testing session at Jerez (7th to 10th February 2012).
The Mercedes-Benz works Silver Arrows team will compete under the name ‘MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team’ from the 2012 season.
AMG is the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, and has been synonymous with performance, sportiness, exciting driving and motorsport success for more than 40 years. The Mercedes AMG brand is the most successful in the history of the DTM, winning 165 races from 342 since 1988 and securing a total of 32 driver, manufacturer and team titles. AMG has also been continuously active in the world of Formula One since 1996, supplying both the Formula 1 Safety Car and the Formula 1 Medical Car. It is therefore a logical step to strengthen the links between AMG and the Formula One activities of Mercedes-Benz.
Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said:“Our new team name fuses the proud traditions of AMG and the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows at the pinnacle of motorsport. These three letters are synonymous with high technology, sporting performance and excitement and this step is a further strong sign of the strategic commitment Mercedes-Benz has made to Formula One. 16 of the 24 drivers on the grid at the season’s final Grand Prix in Brazil have, or have had, a connection to Mercedes-Benz. In addition to the role of a works team, our commitment to Formula One comprises the customer engine programme and supply of the official Safety and Medical Cars.”
The Mercedes-Benz Formula One powertrain facility at Brixworth, UK has worked closely with AMG for a number of years. This wholly owned Daimler subsidiary will now be renamed ‘Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains’.
Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commented:“The Mercedes AMG brand promises ‘Driving Performance’ - and what better embodies this philosophy than the intense competitive arena of Formula One? It is an historic first for the AMG name to be associated to the works Silver Arrows team, and offers fantastic opportunities: first, to further build the sporting identity of the Mercedes AMG brand through one of the world’s most-watched and most successful sports; second, to explore and deliver technology transfer between road and track. This is already being practised with the SLS AMG E-Cell project, whose electric powertrain will be developed as a joint venture between Mercedes AMG and our F1 engine specialists in Brixworth.”
The car with which the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team will compete in the 2012 season is currently under development at the team’s headquarters in Brackley, UK. Codenamed F1 W03, it is planned for the car to make its official track debut at the second winter test of 2012, on 21 February at Barcelona.
Team Principal Ross Brawn concluded:“We are very proud to reveal our new team name today. It adds another strong performance element to our team’s identity and, by virtue of being shared between Brackley and Brixworth, will forge even stronger links within our team. At the factory, we have been focused for some time on the challenge of 2012, and our very clear ambition to move forward up the grid next year. As always, the winter development and manufacturing processes are a trade-off between time for finding performance in the factory, and time for delivering that performance during pre-season testing. We believe that the decision to run the car at the second winter test is the optimum compromise for our design and development programme with F1 W03.”
About AMG
AMG - for more than 40 years, these three letters have been synonymous worldwide with automotive high performance, sportiness and dynamic driving enjoyment.
The company was founded in 1967 and built its image as the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz through an impressive motorsport track record and high-powered Mercedes car. Today, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, AMG is the company’s technological spearhead in the performance car segment.
AMG is strongly rooted in the development processes of Mercedes-Benz and offers a unique portfolio of high-performance vehicles. If you’re looking for something special, or if you love exclusivity, then Mercedes-AMG is the place for you. The Performance Studio in Affalterbach/Stuttgart also develops and produces individual AMG vehicles in exclusive limited editions.
The AMG performance brand grew out of motorsport, and has been at home on the race track for decades - from the successful DTM commitment to top-level customer motorsport with the SLS AMG GT3.
Over 1,000 employees currently work at the headquarters of Mercedes-AMG GmbH in Affalterbach. Precision and efficiency are part of our DNA - every AMG vehicle promises not just the finest quality down to the smallest details, but also exceptional performance and a fascinating driving experience.
