Why the F1 Safety Car will be orange at the 2025 British Grand Prix. Mercedes unveils an orange Safety Car for the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Orange F1 Safety Car at Silverstone: Mercedes pays tribute to heritage and electrified future

During the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, fans will notice something visually striking and symbolically significant on the track: the Formula 1 Safety Car will appear in an entirely orange livery. This bold color change is not merely a stylistic choice—it is a deliberate tribute by Mercedes to both its legendary past and its electric future.

The special color, officially named “Sunset Beam Orange,” is inspired by the iconic Mercedes-Benz C 111, an experimental prototype developed in the 1970s. The C 111 became a symbol of technical innovation and futuristic design for the Stuttgart-based brand, and its orange livery is remembered as one of the most distinctive in the marque’s history. Today, this same shade returns as the signature color of the new all-electric CONCEPT AMG GT XX hypercar, which embodies Mercedes-AMG’s forward-looking vision of performance and sustainability.

The orange Safety Car is therefore far more than a color gimmick—it is a moving tribute to Mercedes-AMG’s ongoing technological evolution. It represents a visual and symbolic bridge between the company’s pioneering spirit of the past and its commitment to innovation through electrification. This tribute will extend beyond the Safety Car alone: throughout the British Grand Prix weekend, the theme will be reinforced by several coordinated elements. These include customized helmets and race suits for drivers, modified Mercedes logos on the Formula 1 cars, and even a special on-track appearance by the historic C 111, which will be driven on Friday morning at Silverstone by Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell.

The CONCEPT AMG GT XX: A vision of electric performance
The CONCEPT AMG GT XX, Mercedes-AMG’s latest electric hypercar, is a blend of heritage and cutting-edge technology. Featuring fully electric all-wheel-drive and aerodynamic styling inspired by motorsport, the car represents the future of high-performance vehicles with zero emissions. The use of Sunset Beam Orange on both the car and the Safety Car serves as a powerful visual link between two generations of innovation. It is a reminder that every futuristic vision is rooted in a rich legacy.

Mercedes has chosen this bold tribute to coincide with its home Grand Prix at Silverstone—a race that holds special meaning for both the brand and British driver George Russell. The event, therefore, takes on a deeper symbolic dimension, celebrating both the past milestones and the future ambitions of Mercedes-AMG.

A Safety Car unlike any before
It is rare for the FIA to authorize a radical color change for the official Safety Car, which is traditionally finished in silver, black, or red. However, on this occasion, an exception has been made in honor of Mercedes’ legacy and in celebration of one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar—Silverstone.

The orange Safety Car is expected to stand out not only visually but also as a symbol of how Formula 1 continues to embrace innovation while honoring the brands that shaped its history.