Mercedes-Benz, the oldest car manufacturer in the world, has been involved in motorsport for more than 130 years. The activities have ranged from Formula 1 to rallies. This chapter of the company’s history is correspondingly diverse. Here is a brief summary of some of the important anniversaries and milestones.
The Mercedes-Benz Corporate Archive contains much more data and plenty of stories and photos in the expanded and restructured motorsport section of the M@RS multimedia archive and research system. Link: mb4.me/mars
- 2010: The Mercedes GP PETRONAS F1 Team enters a very successful era (15 years)
- 1995: First start of the partnership with McLaren-Mercedes in the Brazilian Grand Prix (30 years)
- 1935: First European Grand Prix Championship for the Silver Arrows (90 years)
- 1955: From the Mille Miglia to Formula 1 – the most successful year in motorsport (70 years)
- 2005: Formula 1 champion Mika Häkkinen starts for AMG-Mercedes in the DTM (20 years – with current Norbert Haug video)
- 2000: The new DTM enters its first season – Bernd Schneider becomes champion (25 years)
14 March 2010 – 15 years ago
The first race of the new works team in Formula One
- Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg were signed as drivers by Mercedes GP PERONAS F1
- Seven drivers‘ and eight constructors’ world championship titles since 2014
A new era began 15 years ago: The Mercedes GP PETRONAS F1 Team celebrated its race debut on 14 March 2010 in Bahrain. The driver pairing was Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. It was the first works team of Mercedes-Benz in the premier class of motorsport since the 1950s. Since 2012 it has been called the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. The architect of the ambitious Formula 1 project was the then Head of Motorsport Norbert Haug.
In 2009, he equipped the Brawn team with Mercedes-Benz engines, Jenson Button became drivers‘ world champion and Ross Brawn’s team won the constructors’ title. Mercedes-Benz took over the entire team from Ross Brawn for the 2010 season. The most successful era in Formula 1 history lead to seven drivers‘ world championship titles from 2014 with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and the team since became constructors’ champion eight times. The current 2025 season has got off to a promising start: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 16 March 2025 in third and fourth place. The winner was Lando Norris, whose McLaren is also powered by Mercedes-AMG.
17 April 1995 – 30 years ago
McLaren-Mercedes: Fourth place marks the start of the journey to four world championship titles
- First points for Mika Häkkinen in the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix
- Three Drivers’ World Championship titles for Häkkinen and Hamilton: 1997, 1998 and 2008
Successful start to the McLaren-Mercedes era: Mika Häkkinen finished fourth in the McLaren-Mercedes MP4/10 in the Brazilian Grand Prix at the start of the season on 17 April 1995. After that, the path for the new partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren continues on an upward trajectory. The team won the Formula 1 World Championships in 1997 and 1998 for Häkkinen as driver, and the Constructors’ title in the second year. In 2008, Lewis Hamilton became Drivers’ World Champion.
The cooperation entered into in 1994 by Mercedes-Benz Head of Motorsport Norbert Haug and McLaren CEO Ron Dennis lasted for over 15 years. After that, Mercedes-Benz continued to supply engines for McLaren. Since 2010, the Stuttgart-based brand’s own Formula 1 works team has continued the success story with 15 world championship titles to date for drivers Lewis Hamilton (6), Nico Rosberg (1) and the team (8). McLaren won the Constructors’ World Championship in 2024 with Mercedes-Benz engines. From 1968 to 2024, McLaren has celebrated 189 victories in Formula 1, 85 of them with Mercedes-Benz engines.
22 April 1935 – 90 years ago
Luigi Fagioli wins the 1935 Monte Carlo Grand Prix
- Rudolf Caracciola becomes European Champion with the Silver Arrow in 1935, 1937 and 1938
- The European Championship is regarded as the forerunner of the Formula 1 World Championship introduced in 1950
From the 1920s onwards, the most important motorsport events were called “Grandes Épreuves”. The Grand Prix European Championship was created from these “Grand Tests” in 1931 – but was suspended in 1933 and 1934. Nonetheless, races were still held. From 1934, Mercedes-Benz joined the fray with the new W 25 and won two of the six Grandes Épreuves – on a par with Alfa Romeo. From 1935 to 1939, the European Championship title was again awarded, but with different racing formulae.
The first championship race according to the 750-kilogram formula introduced in 1934 took place on 22 April 1935. Italian racing driver Luigi Fagioli won it with the Mercedes-Benz W 25. In 1935, the ME 25 engine of the first Silver Arrow produced up to 363 kW (494 hp) at 5,800 rpm from a displacement of 4,740 cubic centimetres. Mercedes-Benz dominated the 1935 motorsport season. Rudolf Caracciola became European champion, as he did in 1937 (with the W 125) and 1938 (with the W 154 for the new, displacement-based racing formula).
In 1939, his team-mate Hermann Lang won the most races in the European Championship with the W 154. After the end of the war, the brand entered the new Formula 1 World Championship in 1954 and 1955, with Juan Manuel Fangio twice becoming champion in the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R. Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula 1 in 1994 and has been represented in the premier class of motorsport ever since: initially as an engine supplier for Sauber, McLaren and Brawn, and with its own works team since 2010.
1 May 1955 – 70 years ago
Legendary Mille Miglia victory is a highlight of the brilliant motorsport year 1955
- Record for eternity: Moss/Jenkinson achieve an average speed of 157.65 km/h with the 300 SLR
- The Silver Arrows W 196 R and 300 SLR win in Formula 1 and the Sports Car World Championship
In 1955, Mercedes-Benz celebrated two world championships in motor racing: In Formula 1, Juan Manuel Fangio won his second consecutive title with the W 196 R. The 300 SLR racing sports car (W 196 S) also earned the Stuttgart brand the Sports Car World Championship. The outstanding race was the Mille Miglia from Brescia to Rome and back on public roads: Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson won the classic competition held from 30 April to 1 May 1955 with the best time ever achieved in this road race.
They covered the 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) in 10:07:48 hours, with an average speed of 157.65 km/h. However, the 1955 season also included the Le Mans accident in June with 83 fatalities, including Mercedes-Benz works driver Pierre Levegh. The event was not decisive for the Silver Arrows’ withdrawal from racing at the end of the 1955 season as the decision had already been made beforehand: from 1956, the company concentrated on the development of new production vehicles.
15 May 2005 – 20 years ago
First victory for Mika Häkkinen in his third DTM race
- Pole position, fastest lap and first place at Spa-Francorchamps
- Formula 1 drivers enhance the field of Europe’s most attractive touring car series
- Current video: Norbert Haug about that time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eddXk-zETio)
He came, saw and won: on 15 May 2005, Formula 1 double world champion Mika Häkkinen won his first race at the traditional Spa-Francorchamps circuit in just his third start in the DTM. On 6 November 2004, at the end of the “Stars & Cars” fan event in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Mercedes-Benz Head of Motorsport Norbert Haug announced in front of many thousands of spectators: “I have another surprise for you: Mika Häkkinen will drive DTM for Mercedes-Benz in 2005.”
A Formula 1 World Champion in a touring car is extraordinary. What’s more, the Finn, known and loved for his cosmopolitan nature and humorous commercials for the brand, had ended his career back in 2001. “Mika approached me in 2004 and asked whether there was an opportunity to drive for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM,” says Haug, looking back in a current video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eddXk-zETio). The racing series was also closely followed by Formula 1 drivers. The team welcomed the 20-time Grand Prix winner with open arms and competed in an AMG-Mercedes DTM racing touring car for three seasons. Formula 1 winners Jean Alesi, David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher also drove for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM and were also crowd favourites.
28 May 2000 – 25 years ago
Restart in Hockenheim: The new DTM sees Bernd Schneider as the winner
- The most successful DTM driver wins his third title with the AMG-Mercedes CLK DTM
- Numerous Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles go to the Stuttgart-based brand until its farewell in 2018
The abbreviation DTM has an excellent reputation in European motorsport. Exciting races since 1984, full grandstands and convincing TV ratings promised the best prospects for the German Touring Car Championship of that time. From 1991 to 1995, Mercedes-Benz won the Manufacturers’ Championship four times, Klaus Ludwig won twice and Bernd Schneider once in the Drivers’ Championship. However, the use of technically highly complex racing touring cars was very expensive. Because all other manufacturers had withdrawn from the internationalised ITC Championship by the end of 1996, the DTM was temporarily discontinued.
The bang followed four years later: the DTM restarted in the year 2000 under the name Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, with new regulations. Standardised parts and robust four-litre V8 engines reduced costs. Bernd Schneider won the inaugural season, his teammate Klaus Ludwig finished third. By 2018, Mercedes-Benz drivers had won the title eight times, with the Constructors’ Title going to AMG-Mercedes ten times. Since 2021, the DTM has been held according to GT3 regulations, and Mercedes-AMG won the championship in 2021 and 2024. In the 2025 DTM season, two private teams with four cars will once again compete with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.
