F1-Engined Mercedes Road Car Praised By Former Driver - "Never Be Made Again"

"It’s not a car for the daily commute," he said.

Christijan Albers, a former Formula 1 driver who raced from 2005 to 2007, has acquired a road car equipped with a Formula 1 engine- the Mercedes AMG-ONE, designed to provide drivers with a taste of the racing experience.

Hence, one can envision the complexity of the car, meticulously crafted to precision. However, the challenge of engineering a road car with a Formula 1 engine was so daunting that Mercedes once contemplated abandoning the idea.

Despite the challenges, the team persisted, particularly fueled by the widespread media coverage surrounding the upcoming F1 road car. Mercedes asserts that the car can go from 0 to 125 mph in merely seven seconds and features a 'Strat 2' maximum power mode designed to mimic the performance of F1 cars during qualifying.

Utilizing a 1.6L V6 F1-style engine, the AMG ONE generates 1063 HP and accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 2.9 seconds. However, a notable departure from traditional F1 cars is the incorporation of a plug-in hybrid system with an 8 kWh battery. Otherwise, the vehicle embodies pure F1 essence, encompassing aerodynamics, rear wing design, and steering mechanisms. Notably, it even features a DRS mode!

Albers disclosed that he patiently awaited six years to finally acquire the car. Despite its steep price, he emphasized that the opportunity to own a vehicle equipped with a Formula 1 engine was too significant to pass up, especially for a former Formula 1 driver like himself. He told the De Telegraaf:

“I ordered my copy over six years ago and now it is finally ready.

“Putting an engine like that in is one thing, but of course a road car is something else.

“There are all these compressors and hydraulic systems in it. And a lift system, so you can drive over a threshold, for instance, and cooling is actually the most important thing.

“In a road car, you don’t have as much driving wind as in Formula 1, because of course you are sometimes in traffic jams.

“This is such a unique project. I don’t think this will ever be made again, and because of the hybrid system with the electric motors, it also fits in with today’s greener times. For me, it really is the overall picture.

“A Formula 1 engine as we can now and a road car with SO much downforce. It’s not a car for the daily commute, so to speak.

“I am aware that it is a lot of money. But to be able to drive a car with a Formula 1 engine as a former Formula 1 driver… That opportunity never comes along again. I felt I had to grab it with both hands.”

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