Together with the new regulations, Formula 1 has also made one of the biggest changes to its support fleet for the 2026 season.

Ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula 1 has replaced the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series Safety Car with the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+. Bernd Maylander’s newest ride is also sporting a one-off anniversary livery, as Mercedes-Benz marks 30 years of supplying safety cars in F1.

And yes, much like the newer cars in the new F1 regulations this year, the new safety car is technically slower. The outgoing GT Black Series packs 730 PS and can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds before reaching a 325 km/h top speed.

Its successor, meanwhile, produces 612 PS, needs 3.1 seconds to hit 100 km/h, and tops out at 317 km/h. While its launch is actually a tick quicker thanks to improved traction, it gives up outright power and top speed to the Black Series. At the Nurburgring, the outgoing AMG GT Black Series is also some 20 seconds faster than the new GT 63 Pro. If we talk gaming terms, F1 has somehow "nerfed" the Safety Car.

But before fans cry foul, the change makes plenty of sense. The GT 63 Pro is Mercedes-AMG's newest high-performance flagship, featuring upgraded cooling, improved aerodynamics, carbon-ceramic brakes, and track-focused chassis tweaks. It may not carry the outrageous Black Series badge, but it's still built to handle repeated flat-out laps while leading a pack of Formula 1 cars.

The move also comes as Mercedes-AMG expands its role in Formula 1. After sharing Safety Car duties with Aston Martin since 2021, the German manufacturer will once again supply both the official Safety Car and Medical Car for every Grand Prix beginning in 2026.

Of course, F1 fans will inevitably compare the two. The GT Black Series became an icon thanks to its aggressive aero, thunderous V8 soundtrack, and reputation for being one of the most hardcore road cars ever to wear a three-pointed star. Replacing it with the “less rowdy” GT 63 Pro feels a bit like swapping an end-game boss for a slightly more balanced character.

Still, "nerfed" is relative when your Safety Car still packs over 600 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and enough performance to embarrass most supercars today. But chances are the drivers chasing it will still be wishing Bernd Maylander to go faster.