Mercedes Honors Fictional F1 Movie Team with AMG GT63 APXGP Edition
The 2026 APXGP Edition is a special version of the V-8-powered coupe that references the fictional team in the movie that debuts this summer.
The APXGP Edition wears matte black paint with gold accents, including a neat checkered flag graphic on the front fender.
The look continues inside with gold-tinged carbon-fiber trim and gold contrast stitching on the black nappa leather; only 52 units will be built.
The season of summer blockbusters is nearly upon us, and this year features the debut of a highly anticipated car-themed movie: F1. Directed and co-produced by Joseph Kosinski—also responsible for the exhilarating Top Gun: Maverick—the F1 movie stars Brad Pitt and was filmed at actual Formula 1 races to create an immersive experience. To celebrate its involvement in the creation of F1, the German automaker revealed the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GT63 APXGP Edition tonight ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Mercedes had a key role in making the movie happen. Not only will the brand's vehicles appear on screen as the official safety car and medical car. Mercedes also supplied an AMG SL, GT, and G-class for on-screen appearances away from the track. Mercedes was also reportedly involved in crafting the APXGP race cars driven in the movie, which, in reality, are gussied-up Formula 2 cars. Mercedes designed fresh bodywork to mimic proper F1 racers while also ensuring that the race cars could carry an array of cameras.
The AMG GT63 APXGP Edition is a tribute to the fictional team in the movie and features the distinctive Race Gold accents that will appear on the team's livery in the movie. The gold hue curves around the grille and runs along the edge of the rear diffuser. The front fender trim is also gold and extends into a gold line that flows down the side of the car. A gold checkered flag motif on the front fender adds visual pizzazz and is complemented by a gold AMG logo in front of the rear wheels. The rear section aft of the doors sports a snazzy design with complex lines that appear to form the letters in APXGP.
The 21-inch AMG wheels also wear a matte Race Gold finish, while the carbon-ceramic brakes are painted black. The special edition also comes with the AMG Carbon Fiber package and AMG Aerodynamics package, adding a carbon-fiber front splitter, side sill, rear diffuser, and fixed rear wing for a motorsport-inspired look. The AMG Extended Night package brings black chrome trim to the grille, AMG crest, Mercedes star badge at the rear, and model-specific badging for a subtler look.
The cabin continues the theme with seats wrapped in black nappa leather and microfiber suede with gold stitching. There's plenty of carbon-fiber trim with gold-colored threads, and gold stitching also appears on the heated AMG Performance steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, and center armrest. The door sills have AMG branding with gold illumination, and the floor mats include a leather insert with APXGP embroidered in Race Gold. The cabin also features a 15-speaker Burmester surround sound system and the AMG Track Pace data system. Other standard equipment includes a front-axle lift system and a custom AMG indoor car cover.
Like all GT63s, the APXGP Edition packs a 577-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and all-wheel drive. There's no word on pricing, but the APXGP Edition is an extremely limited affair, with only 52 available worldwide. A "Limited Edition 1 of 52" badge lives on the center console as a reminder of the car's exclusive nature. We expect it to cost a significant amount more than the GT63's $191,550 base price.
In the F1 film, Brad Pitt plays a former driver who returns to race alongside a young up-and-comer portrayed by Damson Idris. The film will also include appearances from Academy Award winners Javier Bardem and Kerry Condon. F1 will open in theaters in North America starting on June 27.
You Might Also Like
Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades
How to Buy or Lease a New Car
Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
8 minutes ago
- Newsweek
F1 Drops a Legendary Track for 2026 as 2026 Calendar Revealed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While the 2025 Formula 1 season is only just starting to heat up, F1 has already announced its schedule for the upcoming 2026 season, revealing a new arrival and a dear departure. The 2026 season will see the introduction of the Madrid Grand Prix, taking place in the center of one of the biggest cities in the world. Madrid's Madring circuit is currently under construction, though the latest reports claim that the timeline should align with the schedule, as long as there are no notable delays. Williams driver Carlos Sainz is one of the track's ambassadors and played a role in its development. The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona is still on the calendar, though the arrival of the Madrid GP has cast doubts over Barcelona's future on the calendar in the future season. The race start during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 1, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. The race start during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 1, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Photo byItaly is going to lose a race on the calendar to make room for Madrid. The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was removed from the upcoming calendar, losing one of the most iconic tracks on the rotation. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the last race at Imola for the foreseeable future and noted that he will miss the track. "Losing these kind of tracks is a shame," Verstappen told reporters after his race win. "I get it from F1's side of things, of course -- the new tracks that we are going to, so you have to see it from a sportive side and a financial side, right? "If you want to grow the business and make it more popular, I get it. For me, of course, personally, when I just speak about the enjoyment of driving, it's these kind of tracks that made me fall in love with racing in general -- in go-karting even, because you have the same thing in karting where some tracks are more special than others." There will still be the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but Imola holds a special place in F1 history. The first F1 championship race at Imola was held in 1980, and it remains one of the oldest tracks still used in racing. Unfortunately, F1 will not be racing there for a while. The 2026 F1 Schedule 6–8 March – Australia – Melbourne 13–15 March – China – Shanghai 27–29 March – Japan – Suzuka 10–12 April – Bahrain – Sakhir 17–19 April – Saudi Arabia – Jeddah 1–3 May – USA – Miami 22–24 May – Canada – Montreal 5–7 June – Monaco – Monaco 12–14 June – Spain – Barcelona 26–28 June – Austria – Spielberg 3–5 July – United Kingdom – Silverstone 17–19 July – Belgium – Spa 24–26 July – Hungary – Budapest 21–23 August – Netherlands – Zandvoort 4–6 September – Italy – Monza 11–13 September – Spain – Madrid 25–27 September – Azerbaijan – Baku 9–11 October – Singapore – Singapore 23–25 October – USA – Austin 30 October – 1 November – Mexico – Mexico City 6–8 November – Brazil – São Paulo 19–21 November – USA – Las Vegas 27–29 November – Qatar – Lusail 4–6 December – Abu Dhabi – Yas Marina For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.


New York Times
22 minutes ago
- New York Times
F1 reveals 2026 schedule: Canadian GP to clash with Indy 500; Madrid debuts in September
Formula One has revealed its calendar for the 2026 season, featuring a record-tying 24 races, three visits to the United States and a new grand prix in Madrid in September. But F1 will also go head-to-head with the Indianapolis 500 next year after moving the Canadian Grand Prix to May 24, setting up a direct clash between the two races on Memorial Day weekend. Advertisement The 2026 calendar was revealed after the FIA's World Motor Sport Council approved the schedule during its latest meeting in Macau on Tuesday. F1 has taken steps in recent years to better regionalize its calendar, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint and meet its net-zero goal by 2030. The latest efforts include Canada's shift to late May from its traditional mid-June slot. It will take place three weeks after the Miami Grand Prix, pairing the first two North American races on the calendar. While the date change ensures the entire European leg of the season can run without leaving the continent between early June and mid-September, minimizing cross-Atlantic travel, it has created a clash with the Indy 500. This year's Indy 500 started at 12:45 p.m. ET, while this Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix will begin at 2 p.m. ET, creating a potential dilemma for racing fans. Traditionally, the Indy 500 has been held on the same day as the Monaco Grand Prix, but the different time zones have meant the F1 race typically finishes a couple of hours before the 500 goes green. As reported by The Athletic, the new F1 season will start once again in Australia, which moves forward by one week to March 8, heralding the debut of the overhauled car designs for 2026, the most significant in a generation. The first race in Madrid, as part of F1's new contract to race in the Spanish capital at the IFEMA complex, is scheduled for September 13 and will be the second of two races in Spain next season, subject to the circuit being signed off by Formula One's governing body, FIA. Barcelona is set to host the final grand prix under its existing contract on June 14. Unlike 2025, Japan is no longer part of a triple-header with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; instead, it becomes a stand-alone race at the end of March. Advertisement The Dutch Grand Prix, which is set to drop from the calendar after 2026, is also not paired with any other races. This means the first triple-header does not occur until Rounds 19 and 21 of the season, which include races in the United States (Austin, Texas), Mexico and Brazil. This will, however, be followed by a second triple-header to close out the season, setting up a run of six races in the space of seven weeks to the final checkered flag in Abu Dhabi on December 6. The fourth running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for November 21, retaining its Saturday slot, although a new contract has yet to be formally announced beyond this year. As anticipated, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola will not appear on the calendar after the expiration of its contract, being effectively replaced by the Madrid race.


New York Times
22 minutes ago
- New York Times
Key takeaways from F1's 2026 schedule: Streamlined start, a ratings test and a punishing close
The 2025 Formula One season hasn't even reached its halfway point yet, but the schedule for next year's campaign was released Tuesday, with a few notable changes as F1 works to regionalize the schedule and make progress toward its net-zero carbon goals. We'll still have 24 grand prix weekends, with Australia opening the calendar and the season finale taking place at Abu Dhabi once again. But there are changes, like the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix officially falling off the slate and Madrid's new circuit making its debut. Having two Spanish races meant that Barcelona and Madrid needed to be spaced out, with the well-known testing circuit near the start of the European stretch, while the newer track will end that portion of the calendar. Advertisement The Canadian Grand Prix is also moving from its June slot to May, a few weeks after the Miami Grand Prix and clashing with the iconic Indianapolis 500. This move comes after Montreal and Monaco swapped positions, and it does help from a logistical standpoint — the races are now geographically closer in sequence. And then there's the case of the schedule ending with consecutive tripleheaders, a run that starts with the United States Grand Prix on October 25 and ends with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6. We dive into these and more developments in our 2026 F1 calendar takeaways below. It's a peculiar move to schedule the Canadian Grand Prix on Memorial Day weekend, the well-known home of the Indianapolis 500. For years, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing has been held on that weekend, whether it be on Sunday or actually on Memorial Day Monday. And for more than two decades, the Monaco Grand Prix has run on Sunday, creating what some call 'Motorsports Christmas.' F1 kicked it off with the Monaco GP during the East Coast morning while IndyCar held the midday slot with the Indy 500. NASCAR closed out the day with the Coca-Cola 600, creating a full day of racing for motorsports fans. However, to regionalize the calendar, F1 swapped the positions of Monaco and Montreal, the latter of which typically interrupted the European leg of the schedule. Monaco has moved to June, while the Canadian GP will take place in May, three weekends after the Miami Grand Prix and on Memorial Day weekend. The plot twist is that F1 and IndyCar will be racing on the same day, in the same time zone. The start times for next year's races are not yet public, but if the two series stick with this year's timings, the races will overlap. The green flag was scheduled to wave for the Indy 500 at 12:45 p.m. ET, and the 2025 Canadian GP starts at 2 p.m. ET this Sunday. Advertisement It's a choice to schedule the Montreal race on the same day, threatening to clash with the Indy 500. It's hard to imagine there won't be an impact on American audience viewership numbers. According to Nielsen's Fast National ratings, a whopping 7.05 million people tuned in to the Indy 500, the largest audience in 17 years, and Fox Sports reported that it peaked at 8.4 million viewers. According to ESPN, ABC's live broadcast of the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix drew a record 1.8 million viewers. The absence of any tripleheaders until the latter part of the season (we'll get to that shortly) will be welcome news for the F1 paddock, particularly off the back of what looks set to be an incredibly short winter. The all-new cars for 2026 will require more testing, meaning the first outings are set for the end of January in Barcelona, with three three-day run-outs planned. But once we get into the thick of the season, things do ease up a fraction. Australia and China coming forward a week means Japan can be a standalone race, instead of forming a tough tripleheader with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as was the case this year. The Middle East pairing is then followed by Miami and Canada, which, separated by three weeks, also gives the paddock a bit of respite. Imola dropping off the calendar also opens up more space once the European season starts, meaning we again avoid a tripleheader before the summer break. And it's a gentle resumption with the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort also becoming a standalone instead of linking up with Italy and Madrid. There does end up being a price to pay, but compared to 2025, the first two-thirds of next year's schedule is at least a little bit kinder on the paddock. A run of six race weekends in seven weeks isn't new for F1. Advertisement The most recent time the sport had a stretch close to that at the end of the calendar was in 2024, though it was across eight weeks, as there was a two-week break between Brazil and Las Vegas. And there were concerns in 2023 about the sustainability of the F1 calendar given the realization it would end on a double tripleheader the following year, as the race weekend schedules get busier and busier. While this scheduling layout didn't repeat in 2025, with São Paulo breaking off into a standalone race, ending on a double tripleheader would have been hard to avoid next year. The two Spanish races required creative scheduling, as Barcelona and Madrid could not occur near each other during the European stretch of the season. This isn't unusual, either. With Italy's two races, Imola traditionally was earlier in the calendar, while Monza took place after the summer break in recent years. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya's contract is through 2026, and it is staying within the same relative ballpark date, even with Monaco and Canada moving. This meant Madrid needed to be in the latter portion of the European calendar. Madrid becoming the closer pushed the remainder of the calendar back a week, as that's now three races in four weeks after the summer break. Austin, Mexico City and São Paulo become a triple once again, but only one week separates Brazil from Las Vegas — and then the paddock heads back to the Middle East for Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The sport's growing popularity creates a balance issue: Creating a globalized and regionalized schedule and factoring in the well-being of everyone working in the paddock. No matter what, it'll be a grueling and demanding end to the year.