F1: Mercedes unveils new 2015 safety and medical cars

Mercedes AMG have unveiled the two new models that will serve as Formula 1 racing's official safety and medical cars for the 2015 season.

The German manufacturer's new 510hp GT S (ABOVE) will make its debut as the official safety car in the season-opening race in Australia next weekend, replacing the gull-wing SLS AMG that has been used for the past five seasons. The new C 63 S wagon (BELOW) will, meanwhile, serve as the new official medical car.

Both cars will be equipped with radio systems, fully integrated iPads and in-car WLAN hotspots to ensure constant contact with race control throughout a Grand Prix weekend.

German Bernd Maylander will once again drive the safety car, while South African Alan van der Merwe will pilot the medical car.

"The gull-wing SLS AMG was my official car in Formula 1 for five years," Maylander said. "Now I'm looking forward to the new Mercedes-AMG GT S, which I have been fortunate enough to get to know during its development phase. The new AMG sports car won me over immediately with its high-caliber racetrack performance."

Van der Merwe is accompanied in the car by Dr Ian Roberts, the FIA's head physician. The back of the car has space for one or two additional medics as well as medical equipment, including a defibrillator and respirator.

Source: FIA