Nico Rosberg picks up the keys to his £2.5m AMG One hypercar powered by his championship winning F1 engine

Good issues come to those that wait.

And should you’re World Champion F1 driver Nico Rosberg your persistence is rewarded with the supply of ‘probably the most complicated automotive on the earth’– the AMG One road-legal £2.5million racing automotive.

Rosberg – most well-known for successful the 2016 F1 World Championship, beating rival and Mercedes teammate Sir Lewis Hamilton – is considered one of solely a handful of individuals fortunate sufficient to personal the 1,063hp hybrid hypercar.

Having first customised his Mercedes Venture One Idea again in 2018 – taking followers alongside in a video on his immensely widespread YouTube channel – Nico’s again with a two-parter as he picks up the keys to one of many world’s most covetable motors.

We had an unique preview of Nico’s behind the scenes tour as he collects his Mercedes-AMG creation with its F1 engine.

‘Mercedes makes hypercars, what, each 20 years at most?’, Nico says as he walks into the AMG headquarters in Affalterbach to see and drive his long-awaited hybrid-powered tremendous sports activities automotive for the primary time.

So, not solely is that this hypercar a once-in-a-blue-moon incidence on the earth of Mercedes-AMG – the final one was the CLK GTR Strassenversion – however it’s additionally a golden egg of the sports activities automotive/hyper automotive world too.

And no-one is best positioned to know or clarify this than Nico.

His father is Keke Rosberg, 1982 F1 World Champion, and through Nico’s six-year stint with Mercedes F1 he secured the World Champion title himself with the W07 automotive.

‘The 1.6-litre V6 – absolutely hybrid – is impressed by my F1 automotive on the time [2015]. The entire powertrain unit relies on the F1 engine – the Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid,’ he explains.

It is in fact modified to suit emissions requirements and highway authorized ranges of vibration, sturdiness and mileage, however it’s the closest automobile on the roads to the precise grand prix automotive that proved so dominant within the late 2010s.

In 2017 Mercedes-AMG revealed its Venture One Idea automotive on the Frankfurt Motor Present. Then in June 2022 the following manufacturing model was unveiled

0 to 124mph in seven seconds, 0 to 187mph in 15.6 seconds – these stats make it some of the costly manufacturing automobiles on the earth. Solely 275 items have been made, all of which have been bought

The AMG One is modified to suit emissions requirements and highway authorized ranges of vibration, sturdiness and mileage, however it’s the closest automobile on the roads to the 2015 W06 grand prix automotive that proved so dominant

In 2016 Nico Rosberg gained the F1 Driver’s World Championship. His father Keke Rosberg took the identical title in 1982, making them considered one of solely two father-son duos to ever handle this feat

Mercedes W06 – 2015 successful automotive

The W06 secured 16 wins, 18 poles, and 32 podiums from 19 races

The W06 – pushed by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton – was an evolution of the 2014 automotive that noticed the Silver Arrows to their maiden constructors’ crown, and secured Lewis Hamilton his second Driver’s championship win – additionally the second ever for a Mercedes driver.

Constructing on that basis, the 2015 automotive had a decrease nostril design in response to tweaked FIA laws from the earlier 12 months.

Mercedes retained the identical successful engine philosophy from 2014, with the compressor on the entrance of the engine, and the turbine on the again. 

The staff used 27 growth tokens on engine upgrades throughout the low season and the 2015 grand prix calendar. 

The W06 went on to safe 16 wins, 18 poles, and 32 podiums from 19 races.

It additionally introduced Lewis Hamilton his third F1 championship win. 

The AMG One is described by the producer as ‘probably the most extraordinary, up to date, road-legal racing automotive to emerge from Affalterbach’.

As Nico and the AMG staff discuss via the automotive, it is shortly evident that the huge challenges of turning an F1-winning machine right into a road-legal beast are the explanation behind the venture delay.

Jochen Hermann, CTO Mercedes-AMG, thought ‘the exhaust can be the largest problem, however the software program was probably the most difficult’.

‘Because of this it took longer than thought. You are not simply shopping for a automotive, you are shopping for a racing staff’, he jokes to Nico. A £2.5m racing staff. 

Amusingly Nico truly checks he is absolutely paid up as he indicators on the dotted line. 

Of the 275 items, hearsay has it that Lewis Hamilton has ordered two (one for himself and one for his father), whereas ex-F1 driver David Coulthard and actor Mark Walhberg have coughed up for one every. 

The AMG One’s E Efficiency plug-in hybrid 1.6-litre V6 turbo petrol engine and 4 electrical motors – for the turbocharger, crankshaft and entrance axle – are mixed with a straight cooled 800-volt battery from Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1’s engine builder, Excessive Efficiency Powertrains.

Accelerating from 0 to 124mph takes seven seconds, 0-187mph simply 15.6 seconds – these stats are much more thoughts blowing if you realise it is the primary automotive on the earth to have the ‘Strat 2’ programme used for F1 qualifying.

The One’s Strat 2 mode maximises energetic aerodynamics and tighter chassis tuning, reducing the automobile for full efficiency.

These are the F1-to-road-legal software program challenges Hermann is speaking about: ‘Placing that engineering staff you had – the folks [17 Nico specifies] who helped you to begin the automotive, or do a fast lap or an extended stint – into sensors, software program and {hardware} is without doubt one of the key parts why it took us longer than we thought it will’.

Unveiled in September 2017, the AMG One lastly went into manufacturing in August 2022, despite the fact that Rosberg customised his over six years in the past.

However it’s a completed murals now. 

Of the 275 items, hearsay has it that Lewis Hamilton has ordered two (one for himself and one for his father), whereas ex-F1 driver David Coulthard and actor Mark Walhberg have coughed up for one every

‘Un-bel-iev-able’, Nico careworn when he first set eyes on the show automotive 5 years in the past

The aerodynamics of the automotive are central to efficiency and to its cut-out open-vent head-turning highway presence. The F1 exhausts are the one pointless however nostalgic contact – and followers will love them.

‘Un-bel-iev-able’, Nico careworn when he first set eyes on the show automotive 5 years in the past.

To get an F1 champion who drives and owns the world’s rarest automobiles – Rosberg already has a Rimac Nevera – to gaze speechless along with his fingers on his head must be sufficient to earn the design staff an instantaneous increase.

And now the automobiles are right here within the flesh supercar spotters ought to take be aware: Rosberg admits in as we speak’s video that he had his AMG One sneakily up to date to ‘Ferrari’s color from Maranello – Grigio Ferro’.

His automotive can be the primary one to have a black star, a singular contact he explains got here from his spouse Vivian who’s an inside designer. 

The final Mercedes hypercar was the CLK GTR Strassenversion. In 2021 one bought for 10 million {dollars}

There have been solely 25 automobiles made – the auctioned one being quantity 9. 20 coupes and 5 roadsters with a 6.9-litre V12, producing simply over 600hp and 572 torques and 0-62mph in 3.8s

So, should you’re fortunate sufficient to see an AMG One within the flesh and it has these two distinctive tells, then whip your digicam out as a result of F1 royalty is driving previous.

When Nico will get contained in the automotive, it is like being taken into an F1 cockpit, not least in the best way he contorts himself previous the scissor doorways and low roof.

‘That is racy – that is correct F1: the F1 seat place, F1 lights and the right steering wheel.

‘It is not 100 per cent – the steering wheel is a bit larger, which is smart as a result of it is extra comfy. DRS, Impartial, Push to Go, lights flashing.

‘The pedal place; brake, throttle and footrest– tremendous racy really feel’.

Apart from two small show screens, and a rearview digicam as a substitute of a mirror, it is scarce inside. Nico selected to have minimal accents and hold all of the stitching one color.

Sadly, for the opposite patrons of the AMG One, you will have to win an F1 world championship earlier than you may get probably the most glamorous inside function of all: Nico Rosberg, F1 World Champion is stitched on the centre console.

‘That is undoubtedly fairly cool’, Nico admits.

However the personalisation does not cease there. Two units of noise cancelling earbuds are engraved with Nico’s identify.

These ‘headsets’ are supplied as a result of the sound of the engine is so loud each the driving force and passenger want noise cancelling safety.

Sebastian Fäsch, Growth Driver for Mercedes-AMG, drove from Stuggart to Barcelona with out a headset however mentioned that ‘after 20 minutes it began hurting’.

‘It is 120dB inside’, Sebastian confirms. To place that into context a thunderclap or a rock live performance is 120dB. As is an plane taking off.

Mercedes-AMG did numerous work to make sure the F1 engine – that is usually sufficiently small to suit into the glove compartment of an everyday automotive however on this case had additional remedy to make it highway environment friendly – ‘sounds pretty much as good as attainable, and optimises the uncooked sound’, Hermann says.

The engine mounting and dampening was engineered however there is no software program on the sound Hermann confirms; ‘it is pure mechanical’.

Nico’s personal automotive even has a tiny piece of his previous W06 welded on.

In 2022 the AMG One set the benchmark lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. DTM driver Maro Engel put it around the notorious monitor in 6 minutes 35.183 seconds at hand Mercedes-AMG the quickest road-legal manufacturing automotive and tremendous sports activities automotive information

In a second video coming Sunday Rosberg takes the AMG One out on highway and monitor.

No doubt the engine roar is the closest ‘regular’ drivers will get to an F1 expertise, and also you’d forgive passersby from pondering they’re listening to a grand prix automotive.

Even for Nico it ‘brings again all of the reminiscences with the engine sound’.

Shifting up via the newly-developed automated seven-speed transmission with its four-disc carbon racing clutch delivers Nico and Seb seamless 11,000 rpm.

‘Woah – this has energy. Actual energy!’ Nico exclaims as they drive alongside the German roads.

After which Nico simply cuts the engine and flips the automotive into EV mode, which solely has one gear. And instantly this 120dB automotive is noiseless – simply the sunshine whirring of the motor is left.

‘When it is a bit noisy and I wish to relax – EV mode. Unbelievable’.

The Finnish-German racing driver turned sustainability investor, who spends post-F1 life devoted to e-mobility, clearly appreciates the ingenuity hybrid powertrains supply, and the complexity that Mercedes-AMG has overcome, to a a lot deeper diploma than different folks.

After which simply as you get used to watching Rosberg and Fasch chat in silence, the V6 is unleashed in Monitor Mode. 

Monitor Mode is not allowed on public roads and ESP can solely be switched off on monitor to maintain folks secure.

Right here the ‘software program engineers’ come into play, because the automotive checks all its aero components. The trip peak is lowered, guide is activated, and torque vectoring is turned off.

‘It is a completely different automotive now’, Sebastian states. Solely the video can do justice to what this automotive can obtain.

Apart from Rosberg roaring ‘ohhhhh that is nuts!’, you’d want a lip-reader to have the ability to perceive Rosberg and Fasch over the engine as they whip around the monitor.

If Rosberg goes up the banking, the automotive has 5G. That is G-Pressure equal to 5 occasions the driving force’s weight.

Prime velocity is ‘restricted’ to 219mph. Good luck to the Popo making an attempt to maintain up.

In 2022 the AMG One set the benchmark lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. DTM driver Maro Engel put it around the notorious monitor in 6 minutes 35.183 seconds at hand Mercedes-AMG the quickest road-legal manufacturing automotive and tremendous sports activities automotive information.

That’s no imply feat because the AMG One is, as Fasch states, the ‘most complicated automotive on the earth in the meanwhile’.

You would not suppose that although as Rosberg casually does one-handed doughnuts within the night gentle.

However then there are solely 34 F1 champions in historical past.

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