The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season. Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last August and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows. The news brings an end to what is currently a 17-year long relationship in F1 with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year long partnership with the works team.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO, commented: “In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”

Lewis Hamilton added: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I'm so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It's a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I'm excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”

Lewis Hamilton paid a special visit to students from the team’s Mulberry STEM Academy at the Mulberry School for Girls in East London on Tuesday.

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton visited the Mulberry School for Girls in Tower Hamlets, London on Tuesday (5 December) to see first-hand how the Mulberry Schools Trust and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix’s Accelerate 25 partnership is helping to empower students from under-represented backgrounds towards careers in STEM.

The visit gave Lewis the opportunity to get involved with several hands-on STEM activities, including a STEM fair, learning about coding in a Robotics lesson, and enjoying an immersive arts experience which showcased the students’ technical skills in digital and production arts. Following the classroom learning, the students delighted in showing Lewis their Racetrack Garage and displayed their Greenpower Trust cars. The students also had the opportunity to put questions to Lewis and ask advice as he toured the school.   

Among the students chosen to guide Lewis on his visit were representatives from the Mulberry STEM Academy. Formed in 2020 as part of our Accelerate 25 programme, the Academy is an innovative partnership between the team and the Mulberry Schools Trust. Providing imaginative teaching, career coaching and industry experience, supported and coached throughout by team members, the partnership’s main aim is to encourage more diversity into STEM, Formula One, and the team.

Now reaching the end of its third year, the programme has seen 271 students take part to date, with many choosing to pursue STEM learning into their further education. It has also reached hundreds of primary-aged children through a series of dynamic, hands-on Mulberry STEM Roadshow events. Tuesday’s audience included a passionate mix of secondary and Sixth Form students, six Mulberry STEM Academy alumni, 183 students currently enrolled in the STEM Academy, and 28 Year 5 students, all displaying their passion and enthusiasm for STEM subjects.

Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust said: “Sir Lewis is one of the great, inspirational role models of our time. His determination, self-discipline, and commitment to his sport as well as his authenticity, modesty and kindness shine through his success on and off the racetrack. Students respect this and today, they celebrated him - and his achievements - in true Mulberry style. It's a visit they will remember for the rest of their lives, inspiring them to go on to greater things themselves."

Paul Mills, Chief People Officer at Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix commented: “Attending Mulberry School for Girls with Lewis and witnessing again first-hand the students’ talent, and how bright their futures are, is exciting. On behalf of everyone at the team, I would like to thank Vanessa, the Mulberry Schools Trust teachers and staff, and of course, the students for putting on such a spectacular programme of events for us. We are truly proud of our partnership with the Mulberry Schools Trust, and we can’t wait to see the graduates of our STEM Academy programme walk through our factory doors in the future.”

Speaking of his experience, Lewis Hamilton said; “A huge thank you to all the students and staff at the Mulberry Schools Trust for welcoming me into their school. It was an honour to meet so many passionate and intelligent students, and to see the game-changing work that the Mulberry Schools Trust and our team are doing to inspire and support young engineers and bring increased diversity to motorsport. I hope the students continue to believe in themselves and go on to show the rest of the world what they are capable of.”

Images from Tuesday’s visit are available to download from our media site.

About the Mulberry Schools Trust

The Mulberry Schools Trust is a flourishing collaboration of schools and partners with a focus on delivering high quality provision for local families in Tower Hamlets and East London. It has provided outstanding education in East London for over 50 years.

The Trust currently comprises founding school Mulberry School for Girls, Mulberry UTC, Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, Mulberry Stepney Green Maths, Computing and Science College, Mulberry Wood Wharf Primary, Mulberry Academy Woodside, Mulberry Canon Barnett Primary and Mulberry Academy London Dock (scheduled to open in 2024).

The Trust believes in outstanding achievement for all and the power of partnerships with families, other local schools and the communities that it serves. It has established the Mulberry Schools Foundation to support its education work more widely.

“Close-up” – the name of this series from the Mercedes-Benz Museum says it all. Each instalment tells a surprising, exciting or behind-the-scenes story, shining a spotlight on details of a vehicle, an exhibit or an architectural or design feature. In the spotlight this time: the “Blitzen-Benz” in Legend Room 7.
No. 13/2023: Benz 200 hp – The “Blitzen-Benz”

Arrow-shaped: Powerful and fast – that’s how the Benz 200 PS “Blitzen-Benz” in the Museum’s racing curve looks. The designers made the bodywork as aerodynamic as possible nearly 115 years ago without the benefit of a wind tunnel. Its basic shape resembles a cigar. The rounded radiator grille divides the airstream at the front, and it flows smoothly over the elongated rear end. The driver crouches low down in the cockpit. Slim is the seat for the riding mechanic, slim are the tyres on the wooden spoked wheels with aerodynamic cladding. Other features are also suitably streamlined.

Powerhouse: Four large-diameter exhaust pipes protrude from the bonnet. They suggest an ample power output. Exhaust silencer? No chance – the fast “Blitzen-Benz” is thunderously loud. Large gear wheels and strong chains transmit the power to the rear wheels. The engine is started using a crank handle at the front of the vehicle.

Progress: Pushing boundaries – that was the task of the Benz 200 hp “Blitzen-Benz” in 1909. It was the first combustion engine car in the world to break the magical 200 km/h barrier and set the world speed record for road vehicles. This and subsequent achievements made it world-famous. Only six examples of the “Blitzen-Benz” were built. Four still exist. The Mercedes-Benz Museum has one on display in Legend Room 7: Silver Arrows – Races and Records.

Success factor: At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, Benz & Cie. was the largest car manufacturer in the world. The vehicles from Mannheim enjoyed an excellent reputation. They were considered suitable for everyday use, reliable and affordable – requirements personally laid down by Carl Benz himself. He thought they did not necessarily have to be the fastest and most powerful. However, the competition, and not least Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, saw things differently. DMG skilfully exploited the racing success of its vehicles for advertising purposes. Benz was in danger of losing market share.

Major rethink: The company decided to make a U-turn. With a clear objective: the fastest car in the world was to come from Mannheim. Faster than any other means of transport at the time – including the railway and the aeroplane. Expressed in figures, this meant that the vehicle should be easily capable of exceeding 200 km/h; after all, record-breaking trains were already travelling at 210 km/h in 1903. And, in 1906, a steam car managed 205.44 km/h. The Blitzen-Benz was to first surpass these figures and then completely eclipse them.

Powerpack: Work on the new car commenced in early 1909. It was to be based on the engine of the Benz 150 hp Grand Prix racing car, but that was not enough for this ambitious project. The displacement of the four-cylinder engine was therefore increased to 21.5 litres. It ultimately delivered 147 kW (200 hp) at 1,600 rpm – the gigantic power unit weighed 407 kilograms. Following the company’s convention at the time, indicating the power rating in horsepower, the racing car was named the Benz 200 PS.

Setting records: The feverish effort was rewarded. 205.666 km/h over half a mile and 202.648 km/h over one kilometre, both with a flying start – these average speeds were achieved by works driver Victor Hémery on 8 November 1909 on the racetrack in Brooklands. The magic 200 km/h barrier was broken for the first time in Europe, and for the first time ever with an internal combustion engine. Brooklands had been opened in 1907 as the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, with banked curves.

All change: The Benz 200 PS used at Brooklands still had the bodywork of the 1908 Grand Prix car. But the car is already pushing the known boundaries. It soon became clear that the racetracks in Europe were not suitable for the speeds that the overpowered car with its new streamlined body was aiming for. The “Blitzen-Benz” needed very long straights to show its potential. So Benz & Cie. went to the USA.

Attraction: In 1910, the record-breaking car was shipped to America. Its owner Ernest “Ernie” Moross called it the “Lightning-Benz”. Translated into German, the name “Blitzen-Benz” established itself soon afterwards. On 16 March 1910, Barney Oldfield reached 211.97 km/h over the mile with a flying start on the dead straight Daytona Beach track. Afterwards, Oldfield used the Blitzen-Benz at show events and demonstrated it to thousands of spectators in America.

More to come: The Benz 200 PS could do even more. On 23 April 1911, also in Daytona Beach, Robert R. “Bob” Burman achieved 228.1 km/h over the flying mile with the further improved racing car. Another world record. It was twice as fast as an aeroplane back then and faster than any car or rail vehicle of the time. The “Blitzen-Benz” remained the fastest car in the world for another eight years. The record established by the famous vehicle from Mannheim was not broken until 1919.

On December 16, Mercedes-Benz became one of the first automakers to receive approval for the conditionally automated driving (Level 3)[1] highway road test license in Beijing. Mercedes-Benz will begin conditionally automated driving system testing on designated highways in Beijing while always adhering to its ‘safety first’ principle. The company actively cooperates with relevant authorities in developing its Level 3 systems for China and aims to provide Chinese customers with a safe and reliable automated driving experience.

Mercedes-Benz has consistently been a pioneer in automated driving. It started in 1986 with adaptive cruise control testing. Today, it is the only car manufacturer in the world with the world's first internationally valid system approval for conditionally automated driving and a SAE Level 4 driverless parking system in place. In China, Mercedes-Benz has been conducting proving ground tests of Level 3 systems for years.

"Mercedes-Benz as the leader in automated driving technology is dedicated to providing the best customer experience - worldwide. After bringing our DRIVE PILOT to Germany and the U.S., the testing license in Beijing is the next important milestone to get conditionally automated driving ready for Chinese roads. We will incorporate all our global expertise to support the local R&D team for a safe and reliable system design.”
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG,
Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement
Mercedes-Benz Level 3 automated driving system: Redundancy for safety and reliability

The level 3 system DRIVE PILOT builds on the sensor technology of the Driving Assistance Package and includes additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers essential for safe conditionally automated driving. These include a LiDAR sensor, an advanced stereo camera in the front window, a multi-purpose camera in the rear window and microphones, especially for detecting blue lights and other special signals from emergency vehicles, as well as a moisture sensor in the front wheelhouse. In addition, the S-Class and EQS with DRIVE PILOT option has redundant steering and braking systems as well as a redundant on-board electrical system to remain manoeuvrable even if one of these systems fails and to ensure a safe handover to the driver.

The advantages for the customer are clear: during conditionally automated driving, the activated DRIVE PILOT allows the driver to take their mind off the traffic and focus on certain secondary activities, be it communicating with others via In-Car Office, browsing the web or relaxing while watching a movie. Mercedes‑Benz introduced DRIVE PILOT in Germany as an optional conditionally automated driving system in the S-Class and the all-electric EQS sedan in 2022. In the U.S., the production-ready version of DRIVE PILOT has already made its on-road debut in California and Nevada with a limited fleet of Level 3 equipped EQS Sedans. Customer deliveries of DRIVE PILOT equipped MY2024 EQS Sedan and S-Class models will be available in early 2024 through participating authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers in California and Nevada.

As far as system design is concerned, Mercedes-Benz is taking a step-by-step approach focused on safety. By the end of this decade, the manufacturer wants to expand the availability on the freeway to up to 130 km/h. In the meantime, Mercedes-Benz wants to offer intermediate steps. For Germany, the next move will be a system which can do 90 km/h when following a vehicle upfront on the German highway.
Tailoring the vehicles to the Chinese market through China R&D capabilities

In China, Mercedes-Benz integrates its global R&D experience with a local R&D team with strong capabilities, and through cooperating with local partners and adapting to local regulations to deliver tailored products for Chinese customers. For the development and approval of the conditionally automated driving system, engineers, lawyers, compliance managers, data protection experts and ethics experts worked together as an interdisciplinary team. To make the Level 3 automated driving system more adaptable to China's infrastructure and traffic conditions, the local R&D team has been deeply involved from the early stages of relevant global development. Since 2021, Mercedes-Benz has undertaken proving ground testing and validation in China to continuously enhance Level 3 system performance. The focus of local R&D efforts includes adapting the system to China's unique road signs, markings, construction zones, special lanes such as bus lanes and tidal lanes, and continually optimising logic, algorithms and parameters for scenarios like vehicle cutting-in.

Starting in 2005 with the first locally-produced E-Class model, Mercedes-Benz has continuously expanded its R&D capabilities in China to meet customer needs. Over the past 18 years, China's R&D network has developed into the most comprehensive R&D network outside of Germany. In recent years, Mercedes-Benz established new R&D centres in Beijing and Shanghai in 2021 and 2022 respectively while expanding its extensive collaboration with local partners. This includes over a decade of longstanding joint research with Tsinghua University in sustainable mobility.

Mercedes-Benz also continues to attract local talent and expand its local R&D team. By the end of 2023, its China R&D team is expected to grow to 2,000 people. Through collaborative innovation in cutting-edge technology, Mercedes-Benz consistently brings more exclusive products and services to Chinese customers while sharing inspirations to the global R&D network.

In the field of automated driving, Mercedes-Benz will continue to cooperate with local authorities in the future, bringing innovative technologies to Chinese customers and contributing to the development of the intelligent connected vehicles in China.

Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Milan – The bus companies Autostradale and Stie have received a total of 30 Mercedes-Benz Tourismo M/2 touring coaches of the latest generation as part of their campaign to revive tourism in northern Italy. Twenty-five of the Tourismo vehicles will go to Autostradale and five to Stie. These new high-deck touring coaches will be used in Gran Tourismo long-distance services. The two bus operators intend to improve connections between major cities, such as Milan, and the airports of northern Italy.

Matteo Ferrari, head of Retail Sales at Daimler Buses Italia, says, "This is one of the most significant orders of our bestseller, the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, at either a national or European level. We are delighted and proud to have been commissioned by Autostradale and Stie, two of the most important companies working in Italy in the Lombardy and national passenger transport sectors."

Optimised equipment and services

The equipment and paintwork are identical on all 30 of the new Tourismo M/2 vehicles. Each of the approximately 13-metre-long coaches has 61 seats in 16 rows, 59 of which are reserved for passengers and two for the driver and co-driver. Autostradale and Stie have also equipped the high-deck coaches with a wheelchair lift to enable passengers with reduced mobility to use the buses and so offer an efficient and comfortable means of transport to all passengers. All vehicles have numerous safety features, such as the emergency braking assistant Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA 4).

Both companies have concluded a six-year Omniplus full-service contract with the after-sales organisation of Daimler Buses Italia to keep the new Tourismo coaches in their long-distance bus fleets in optimal condition at all times.

Tourismo coaches ensure sustainable mobility

By investing in these new Mercedes-Benz touring coaches, Autostradale and Stie have opted for premium quality and cutting-edge technology to ensure sustainable and efficient mobility. “The decision to purchase 30 latest-generation coaches with optimum emissions, performance and comfort is concrete proof of just how important the airport transfer sector is to us. We are already leaders in this field and want to consolidate and expand our business”, says Pierluigi Zoncada, president of Autostradale.

For Zoncada, the primary importance of the 30 Tourismo coaches, newly integrated into the fleet and used to serve connecting lines and feeder routes to the airports of northern Italy, lies in meeting the high demands and quality awareness of national and international travel customers: “Our Gran Tourismo buses give customers – international customers in particular – their first impression of public transport in Italy when they arrive at the airport. We feel responsible for this and are proud that these high-quality coaches will boost the good reputation of our country at home and abroad.”

About Autostradale and Stie

Founded in 1924, Autostradale was one of the first passenger transport companies in Italy. Today, the company employs over 200 people through its organisation and subsidiaries and transports over three million passengers every year in various segments of the transport and travel sector. Autostradale focuses on connections between airports and city centres. The company also still operates the historic Gran Tourismo lines, which connect Milan and Lombardy with the most important holiday destinations on the Tuscan coast.

Stie currently has 198 employees. The company’s buses cover around four million kilometres a year in the provinces of Varese, Milan and Monza Brianza. This includes 488,000 kilometres of urban transport in Legnano. In total, Stie operates 46 regular services. One of these lines connects Milan Central Station with Malpensa Airport. Two other lines are Gran Tourismo connections running from and to the Ligurian and Romagnola Rivieras.