George Russell

That was a great session and I’m happy to be in P3. Qualifying was a strength earlier in the season, but it’s been going a bit wrong for me recently, so it was good to get the break, come with some fresh ideas and put ourselves in a good place to fight for the podium tomorrow. The final lap was pretty okay – we know that we struggle to get temperature into the tyres when it’s wet or the crossover to slicks, but that also turns into a strength on Sunday. I’m sure Max will enjoy his usual Sunday drive tomorrow, but from P3 hopefully we can have a good fight with Lando, Alex and the rest.
Lewis Hamilton

It wasn’t my day today. Since FP1, I’ve lost some confidence in the car and that made qualifying tricky. It was tough to get the tyres into the working window, I struggled with the balance and overall grip, and George also did a few different settings that seemed to work better. But we know that the car operates in a narrow window, and these things can happen when you are in that situation. On the final run, I did two consecutive laps and the tyres overheated on the second one, so I couldn’t improve the time. Tomorrow is a new challenge; hopefully the car will be a bit better on full tanks, and we can make some forward progress. This isn’t an easy circuit for doing that – but that will be the goal.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

It was a challenging session, as we know our car is not the strongest when it comes to warming up the tyres in the wet and on the drying track. That means we need to put all the details together and that was hard today. George got the maximum from it to take a second row, so I hope he will be racing for the podium tomorrow. For Lewis, it seemed like he was impeded on every timed lap – including his quickest one – but he also didn’t have full confidence in the car today. We will analyse why – but we know as well that we can race stronger than the cars around him, so I hope to see him move forward tomorrow. So, a day of mixed fortunes; but we can take positives from P3 and build from there.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

We’re pleased with the P3 start position for George and naturally disappointed we couldn’t get Lewis further up. We were struggling for temperature on intermediate tyres in the morning session, George managed to get on top of this, but Lewis was not particularly happy with his balance and finding it hard to build heat in the tyres. Those trends continued into qualifying although Lewis was particularly unfortunate with the number of cars blocking him on fast laps; ultimately it was the lack of a clear lap that prevented him making the final session. We’re expecting conditions to improve for tomorrow; our long run pace looked reasonable on Friday so hopefully we can move forward with both drivers.

The second-generation Mercedes‑AMG GT Coupé is the new top model offered by Mercedes‑AMG. It combines highly dynamic driving characteristics with increased suitability for everyday use. High-tech components such as the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active roll stabilisation, rear-axle steering as standard and active aerodynamics sharpen the driving profile. The sporty coupé also brings its power to the road with the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive for the first time. In combination with the AMG 4.0 litre V8 biturbo engine, it results in a driving experience at the highest level. The exclusive AMG sports car architecture with the elaborate composite aluminium body structure enables its configuration as a 2+2‑seater. For a sports car in this class, this means passengers have a very good sense of space and plenty of room for their luggage. The new Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé, as the fifth independent series after the SLS, the first generation of the two‑door GT, the GT 4‑door Coupé and the SL, once again demonstrates the high level of technological competence of the Affalterbach development team.

“The new AMG GT Coupé combines highly dynamic driving characteristics and distinctive sportiness with a high level of everyday comfort. Our new GT is clearly the top-of-the-line product in our diversified portfolio and is therefore not only AMG's youngest brand shaper, but also a clear commitment to the sports car made in Affalterbach. With the new dimension concept and optional 2+2 seats, we are directly responding to the wishes of our customers.”
Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes‑AMG GmbH and Head of Business Units Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class & Mercedes‑Maybach

The market launch will take place as the AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé (combined fuel consumption WLTP 14.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions WLTP 319 g/km)[1] with an output of 430 kW (585 hp) and as the AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé (combined fuel consumption WLTP 14.1 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions combined WLTP 319 g/km)[1] with an output of 350 kW (476 hp).
Exterior design: the evolution of a modern, iconic sports car design

The expanded dimensional concept with optional 2+2 seats offered the designers completely new design options for the exterior. The long wheelbase, short overhangs and steeply raked windscreen make the new AMG GT Coupé appear compact and powerful. The balanced proportions with an exciting greenhouse, voluminous wheel arches and the expressive front view signal the appearance of a powerful sports car that is also suitable for everyday use. The side view is characterised by smoothly modelled surfaces without beads or edges, right down to the recessed door handles. The expressively modelled rear shoulder area gives the vehicle additional sports car appeal. The light-alloy wheels, which are almost flush with the body, emphasise power and dynamics. The active rear spoiler is seamlessly integrated into the large tailgate.

The deep and wide AMG-specific radiator grille creates a dominant presence. The distinctive headlights with standard DIGITAL LIGHT underline its unmistakable character. The daytime running lights with the characteristic three "light dots" light signet add further recognition value. The precise graphics in the darkened interior of the headlights with brushed surfaces underline the performance design. The lower air intake gives the front additional optical width. The sporty front is rounded off with the powerful power domes on the bonnet.

The compact greenhouse with a fastback silhouette and a large tailgate allows the design of a low and rounded rear with an active, deployable spoiler. The precise detailed design of the fender trim sets an accentuated contrast to the clean and full surfaces. The strongly pronounced shoulder gives the vehicle a perfect balance of elegance and sportiness. The flat, horizontally connected LED taillights with clear and precise graphics are precisely embedded in the rear design. The dark LED rear lights form a perfect symbiosis with the front headlights thanks to the three-dimensional "light dots" light signet. They feature the running light indicator function and "Coming Home/Leaving Home" animation as standard. The expressive rear diffuser with formally integrated twin tailpipe trim rounds off the dynamic design at the rear.

Mercedes‑Benz offers a diverse brand experience at the Pebble Beach Automotive Week. The Mercedes‑AMG GT and an exclusive special edition of the Mercedes‑AMG SL celebrate their highly anticipated world premieres. The top-end segment is rounded off by Mercedes‑Maybach highlight models. With the Vision One‑Eleven and PROJECT MONDO G, the brand is also proudly displaying innovative and inspiring concept vehicles.

"At Pebble Beach Automotive Week, we would like to invite you on an amazing journey back through time with a display of selected brand icons that show why Mercedes‑Benz has continued to fascinate people for 137 years. This event is of unparalleled importance to us among the international automobile platforms, and not only because of the Californian lifestyle. The event is a magnet for car enthusiasts and opens up new opportunities for us to facilitate a personal encounter with our brands in a first-class setting."
Bettina Fetzer, Head of Communications and Marketing Mercedes‑Benz AG
World premiere of the all-new Mercedes‑AMG GT

Mercedes‑AMG is continuing its success story at Pebble Beach and celebrating a very special premiere at this year's Automotive Week: in the run-up to the 72nd Concours d'Elegance, the performance and sports car brand will be presenting the next generation of the Mercedes‑AMG GT to the world for the first time. Following the SLS, the first generation of the two‑door GT, the GT 4‑Door Coupé and the SL, the new two‑door model is already the fifth vehicle to have been developed entirely in-house by Mercedes‑AMG. The all-new AMG GT has a modified dimensional concept compared to its predecessor but remains true to its sporty and dynamic virtues. The all-new AMG GT thus embodies the brand's high standards of performance luxury like no other product from Affalterbach.

"For many decades, Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance at its conclusion have been a fascinating showcase for highly exclusive automotive gems as well as for customers and enthusiasts. There is no more suitable setting to show our exclusive brands and models to the public while combining tradition with modernity. In the case of Mercedes‑Maybach, the DS 7 Cabriolet from 1932 meets the all-electric EQS SUV, among others. Our iconic G‑Class off-roaders are also represented. I'm also particularly looking forward to celebrating the exclusive world premiere of our all-new Mercedes‑AMG GT with Mercedes‑AMG at Pebble Beach."
Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes‑AMG GmbH and head of the business units Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class & Mercedes‑Maybach
Presentation of the MANUFAKTUR customisation programme and premiere of a special-edition Mercedes‑AMG SL

Mercedes‑Benz has always offered its customers the opportunity to give their vehicles a personal touch. From bespoke paint finishes to a variety of other distinctive options: it's easy to configure a Mercedes according to personal wishes and ideas. Two years ago, Mercedes‑Benz went one step further and introduced the MANUFAKTUR label. With this programme, customers can benefit from an even higher level of customisation when ordering their vehicle. As the customisation programme is proving highly popular, it is now being steadily expanded. As an example of this, a Mercedes‑AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE (combined fuel consumption: 4.4 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 100 g/km; combined electric energy consumption: 21.4 kWh/100 km) can be seen at Pebble Beach. Interested parties will also be able to gain insight into the range of customisation available with the MANUFAKTUR programme for Mercedes‑Maybach. As an additional highlight, a limited special edition of the Mercedes‑AMG SL will also celebrate its global premiere.
Mercedes-Maybach showing its highlight models with an invitation to an exclusive lunch

In addition to its current production models, Mercedes‑Maybach will also be presenting a historic Maybach Zeppelin DS 7 from a private collection along with the latest member of the family, the all-electric Mercedes‑Maybach EQS 680 SUV (provisional values: combined electric energy consumption: 24.4‑22.5 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km)[1]. In addition, our partner company MAYBACH Icons of Luxury will present a selection of its exclusive accessories and other products. The Maybach brand has always stood for pioneering spirit and innovation. Daniel Lescow, Head of Mercedes‑Maybach, is therefore inviting selected guests to a private lunch this year. This event will also provide a discussion platform on the development and use of new technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI), with experts such as Dr. Poppy Crum from Stanford University and Ulrich Schmid‑Maybach, President of the Maybach Foundation.
Experiencing the multi-faceted history of the Mercedes‑Benz brand

Overall, Mercedes‑Benz Heritage will open the event with a Welcome Tour on August 16 on the legendary Highway 1 along the West Coast from Los Angeles to Pebble Beach. The official Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance will kick off Pebble Beach Automotive Week 2023 - the top event of the global Concours d'Elegance - on the following day. This will be led by two exclusive, supercharged models from the Mercedes‑Benz W 06 series: a Model S, the letter standing for "Sport", with a four-seater sports body from 1927, and a Model SS "Super Sport" Cabriolet from 1930 with coachwork designed for the Maharajah of Kashmir.

"Pebble Beach Automotive Week, with its legendary Concours d'Elegance, is a flagship event in the world of automotive classics, where exclusive events are no rarity. This year, Mercedes‑Benz Heritage is focusing on an important, enduring aspect of our brand history: as the oldest automobile manufacturer in the world, Mercedes‑Benz was already inspiring people with top-class, sporty dream cars featuring innovative technology as far back as the 1920s and 1930s. The supercharged sports cars of the S‑series are prime examples. Pebble Beach also shows how important automotive tradition is for the future. Because the event has long since spread its aura beyond the historical perspective - to encompass today's vehicles and important innovations for the future of the automobile."
Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes‑Benz Heritage

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will take place as the highlight of Automotive Week. As is tradition, the international public will await the decision as to which of the classics will be awarded the "Best of Show" prize with great interest and anticipation. Mercedes‑Benz is one of the most successful brands in the history of this accolade. The most recent Mercedes‑Benz winners were Arturo and Deborah Keller's Mercedes‑Benz 540 K Autobahn Courier in 2021 and Bruce McCaw's Mercedes‑Benz Model S Tourer with Barker coachwork in 2017.

In addition, Mercedes‑Benz Heritage is offering an extensive supporting programme for journalists and select guests at the Pebble Beach Automotive Week. From Thursday, August 17 to Saturday, August 19, classic cars from the brand will be presented in conjunction with the Mercedes‑Benz Star Lounge on the festival site. The classics represent different facets of the brand's history. They commemorate the premieres of the Mercedes‑Benz 600 (series W 100) prestige limousine and the 113 series Mercedes‑Benz "Pagoda" SL in 1963. Other highlight topics include the tradition of the E‑Class as well as luxurious convertibles and sports cars from the history of Mercedes‑Benz.
Largest gathering of the W 06 series in North America

Directly after the Pebble Beach Automotive Week, Mercedes‑Benz Classic will be taking part in another high-class event focusing entirely on the supercharged sports and racing cars of the S‑series. A historic tour from August 21 to 24 will bring together 20 of these legendary vehicles, making this the largest gathering of W 06 series cars in North America this year. In addition to collectors' super sports cars from the W 06 series, the two Mercedes‑Benz Sport and Super Sport models from the company's own collection presented earlier in Pebble will also take part in the tour. Marcus Breitschwerdt will join the tour in the Maharajah of Kashmir's Mercedes‑Benz Super Sport Cabriolet.
Mercedes‑Benz Concept Cars and launch of a limited C 111 accessories collection

With the Mercedes‑Benz Vision One‑Eleven, which celebrated its world premiere for the first time in California a few weeks ago, Mercedes‑Benz is presenting a sports car study in Pebble Beach that combines a highly dynamic design idiom with innovative, fully electric drive technology. The super-sporty silhouette is defined by the consistently implemented "one bow" design in the signature Mercedes style of the 21st century. The technical highlights include two powerful and highly efficient axial-flux motors from YASA, an English electric motor specialist based in Oxford and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes‑Benz AG since July 2021. The Mercedes‑Benz Vision One‑Eleven thus continues the tradition of the legendary C 111 experimental vehicles from the 1960s and 1970s.

Together with the presentation of the sports car study, Mercedes‑Benz is launching the "LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111" collection. This translates the spirit of the 1970s into the here and now and combines casual sportiness with meticulous attention to detail. In addition to the distinctive paint finish of the Vision One‑Eleven, the individual accessories - a weekend bag, a hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, a cap and a protective case for an iPhone 14 Pro - echo the vehicle's characteristic design features. The five items are each limited to 111 pieces and thus offer admirers of this fascinating study an exclusive opportunity to take its style home with them. The products in the collection are now available at www.1of111.com.

In addition to the Mercedes-Benz Vision One‑Eleven, the PROJECT MONDO G artwork is also part of Pebble Beach. It combines the characteristic features of the Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class with the puffer jacket by Moncler as part of the collaboration between both brands.

[1] Data on power consumption and range are provisional and were determined internally in accordance with the "WLTP test procedure" certification method. So far there are no confirmed figures from an officially approved testing organisation, nor any EC type approval or certificate of conformity with official figures. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.

Lewis Hamilton

The conditions were very tricky out there and we’re all trying our best. I think the contact with Perez was a racing incident. He went wide and was slow through turn 14 and I got a great exit – I was more than half-a-car alongside him and we ended up just coming together. Naturally it wasn’t intentional, but I got a penalty for it. Ultimately, it doesn’t make a huge difference. The difference between fourth and seventh in a Sprint where you don’t get a lot of points means it’s not punishing.

The positives are that our pace has been good. Today in the Sprint Shootout, we would have been fighting for the front-row without the issues on our final lap. We would have been right up there battling with Max, but it wasn’t meant to be. We now start third tomorrow and I hope I’ll be able to fight with the Ferraris and Perez.
George Russell

I think P8 was the maximum we could achieve from a shortened Sprint today. The car was really quick; I think we were probably the second fastest out there behind Max. Unfortunately after a bad qualifying session this is all you can really get. It also wasn’t easy out there in those conditions. It was my decision to pit one lap after the safety car had come in and that was perhaps not the correct one. We came out P12 after the pit stop and got back to P8. To recover those positions in such a short race is positive. With two more laps, we could have possibly got up to P5, but it is what it is, and I’m relatively satisfied.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

The car was good today. I would rather have a quick car that is doing good things and have a less optimal position in the Sprint, than benefitting from other’s misfortunes and being lucky. Given everything that happened today that we didn’t optimise, I’m OK with how our race played out.

Both Lewis and George had great pace; George overtook several cars and was closing on Norris who was much further ahead, so he had a good recovery. The contact between Lewis and Perez I saw as a racing incident more than penalty worthy. They were side-by-side and we want to see people racing. Nevertheless, that was the decision, and we now move on to the Grand Prix tomorrow. If we take similar pace into the race, we will be in a good position to fight for a decent result.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

Both drivers drove a good race today. We’d have liked a few more laps to attack as the car was working well. Lewis’ penalty is frustrating, but the big points are tomorrow and if the car has the pace it had today, we should be on for a strong result.

George did a really good job to get into the points. It wasn’t easy to overtake as the DRS was disabled but he was making steady progress through the field and had good pace. We still don’t have any proper dry running so it’s hard to know where everyone will be on pace; we can expect Max to be difficult to beat even with his penalty, but everything else is up for grabs.

With digitalisation and the increasing use of powerful artificial intelligence (AI) systems, every job profile at Mercedes-Benz is changing. As part of the Turn2Learn qualification initiative, Mercedes-Benz is investing more than €2 billion in the qualification of its global workforce until 2030. The Turn2Learn initiative focuses specifically on digitalisation and AI. For example, in the two pilot programmes D.SHIFT and Data Worker, more than 600 employees from production, production-related areas and administration are currently undergoing dedicated qualification to become data and AI specialists. The first graduates will receive their certificates in the next few days. Due to the strong employee interest in this area, Mercedes-Benz is now expanding these programmes.

"To successfully shape the company's transformation, we don’t just need to have the right digital tools and generative AI applications in place within the company. Of far greater importance is a team that both embraces change and constantly expands its digital skills. The huge interest in courses offered by our Turn2Learn qualification initiative proves that we’ve got exactly this kind of team at Mercedes-Benz. To successfully master the process of change, courage and commitment are necessary. We can see both of these attributes demonstrated by the colleagues who are currently taking part in the D.SHIFT and Data Worker programmes as they continue to invest a great deal of time and energy in retraining and further education. As the world of work continues its massive transformation, lifelong learning will remain the key to success – for us as a company as well as for our employees."
Sabine Kohleisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG responsible for Human Resources, and Director of Labour Relations

"Electrification, digitalisation and rapid developments in artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing the working environment. That goes for production, too. Which is why we urgently need more data specialists who are familiar with the production environment and furthermore have a strong grasp of digital tools and their interfaces. And this is exactly where D.SHIFT, the qualification programme for our production employees, comes in. It allows us to provide targeted support to digitally savvy people who have a high willingness to learn and change, and who are also familiar with our production processes.
Following the success of D.SHIFT in Berlin and Untertürkheim, we plan to expand this unique initiative in the coming months."
Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production & Supply Chain Management

"Lifelong learning isn’t something new – but the speed at which technologies and the world of work are changing is. This is why ongoing training and education are a fundamental cornerstone for employment, the future viability of the company as well as for the personal development of each individual. As the works council, it’s our aim to ensure that the transformation of our company is fair, socially responsible and just. To accomplish this, it’s crucial to involve employees in the process. As the General Works Council, we have had a longstanding commitment to qualification training. It is right and proper that the company invests accordingly and sets the course for the effective and continuous qualification. But it also takes a strong will and courage on everyone’s part. I am impressed by the enthusiasm and motivation with which our colleagues have completed their training."
Ergun Lümali, Chairman of the General Works Council of Mercedes-Benz Group AG
Turn2Learn as a systematic continuation of our approach to employee qualification

Under the roof of the Turn2Learn qualification initiative, Mercedes-Benz offers its employees a comprehensive range of opportunities to learn in a self-determined and flexible manner for their current job or in preparation for their future dream job.

These range from short courses to learning paths and academic degrees. All qualification offered is aligned with the Group’s strategic goals, for example with qualification available in areas including "data science for beginners"; "cloud solution architect"; "hybrid working"; "developing learning routines" and "project management", through to sustainability topics. The external learning platforms introduced last year are also being widely used: With around 100,000 licences made available companywide for various external learning platforms, learning opportunities have already been accessed more than one million times since the launch.

Investments are being made in the development of digital skills in all areas of the company. In 2022, there were around 120,000 participations in training courses that were related to digitalisation, such as software, coding and IT at Mercedes-Benz Group AG worldwide. In addition, there were more than 77,000 participations in training courses on topics relating to electric mobility at our MB Tech Academies in Germany. Since the beginning of this year, Mercedes-Benz employees worldwide have invested a total of more than 900,000 hours in professional and personal training.
D.SHIFT: Training of talented employees from production for defined target positions in the digital job environment

To actively promote the digital transformation in production, the in-service training programme, D.SHIFT, was launched at the Berlin site in 2021. Employees from production who are interested in data and AI are selected as part of a so-called "Digital Challenge" and retrained as data specialists. Throughout the programme, these employees receive intensive support and guidance and additionally get hands-on work experience with specific practical projects and job shadowing. At the end of the programme, they move into their target positions that were defined and set at the beginning.

After eleven employees successfully completed their retraining in Berlin as part of the pilot project, the D.SHIFT programme was extended to the powertrain site in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim. There, too, 22 Stuttgart colleagues from the area of production have now completed their retraining and moved into their previously defined target positions as data specialists at the Sindelfingen site. The training scheme enables these digital pioneers to qualify for new employment opportunities in areas such as data analysis, artificial intelligence or software programming for electric mobility.

Thanks to D.SHIFT, employees in production can expand their skills, contribute their knowledge of the production environment and align themselves with future-proof job profiles. The response has been enormous across the production site: several hundred employees have applied for the 22 spots in Untertürkheim. Thanks to the success of this programme, D.SHIFT will be further expanded in the coming months.
Data Worker: Selected learning paths for data science and artificial intelligence available to the global workforce

The digital transformation of Mercedes-Benz is being driven forward by data. The goals of a data-driven organisation can only be met if relevant data can be located, accessed, interoperated with and reused in high quality throughout the company. To ensure this in the future and enable data-driven decisions in all specialist areas of the company, there is a need for employees who are responsible for the preparation, analysis and operationalisation of data. Mercedes-Benz has therefore defined specific Data Worker profiles for strategically important data and use cases. In addition to external new hires, the company has been specifically ensuring an increase in qualified specialists through internal retraining as part of the companywide Data Worker pilot programme since 2022. Employees can choose between four special learning paths: Data Product Owner, Data Engineer, Data Analyst and Data Scientist. Depending on the learning path, the training takes between 60 and 400 hours.

"Data plays a key role in the transformation process towards becoming a digital company. Opinions become facts. This is the only way we can create first-class customer experiences and innovative solutions. Qualified specialists such as our Data Workers are the foundation for this. Their expertise makes it possible for us to fully tap the potential from data in a dynamic environment. They also show that the transformation to a data-driven organisation not only creates entirely new roles, but also promotes personal and professional development."
Jan Brecht, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

The initial programme proved very successful. It was not only the participants who learned a great deal: the company did as well. The insights gained have been directly incorporated into the further development of the learning paths. In view of the strategic importance of digital skills, essential modules of the Data Worker learning paths can be booked by all employees. In addition, key content has also been adapted to other qualifications, and further learning paths on the topics of data and AI have also been developed.
Data and AI at Mercedes-Benz

Generative AI applications already are being employed in many areas of the company. As recently as mid-June, the company announced plans to integrate AI into the voice control system of its vehicles. By adding ChatGPT, voice control via the MBUX Voice Assistant's Hey Mercedes will become even more intuitive.  In mid-June 2023, an optional beta programme was launched for customers in the USA whose model series are equipped with the MBUX infotainment system.

Mercedes-Benz is also testing ChatGPT in production, accelerating the use of intelligent tools in the MO360 digital production ecosystem, which was first introduced in 2020. With the aim of optimising the analysis of production data, for example from quality management, ChatGPT will support production employees as a universal, voice-based interface.