Meet the New Mercedes-AMG GT Promoting Brad Pitt’s Movie ‘F1’

While Mercedes lines up fourth in the tally of Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship titles, securing eight in 75 seasons, it appears to be taking pole position when it comes to involvement with the soon-to-be released blockbuster focused on the premier motorsport series. The automaker and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team have been closely associated with what’s promising to be a benchmark racing film, the highly anticipated F1, opening this summer. Both in honor of this collaboration and representative of it, the marque debuted the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 “APXGP Edition” on Saturday night as part of the festivities surrounding the Miami Grand Prix.

“F1 brilliantly intertwines the fictional APXGP team with the real-world Formula 1,” stated Michael Schiebe, chairman of the board of management for Mercedes-AMG, in the manufacturer’s released announcement. “With the exclusive APXGP Edition, we’re creating a limited number of GTs that blend AMG’s excitement with the cinematic masterpiece F1.”

What separates the special-edition car from other variants in the Mercedes-AMG GT model line are aesthetic embellishments more than performance enhancements. Interestingly, the movie-inspired 2+2 coupe is not equipped with the AMG GT 63 S E Performance’s 805 hp setup, but carries the base model’s 577 hp, 4.0-liter biturbo V-8, which is mated to AMG’s nine-speed automatic transmission. Complementing the power train is the 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive configuration, the Active Ride Control adaptive suspension, active rear-wheel steering, and an aerodynamics package. The latter includes a front splitter, rear diffusor, and fixed rear wing—all comprised of carbon fiber.

Truly defining this latest release are its overall livery and accents. The car is dressed in a dark APXGP Edition paint scheme that integrates  a unique design motif done by hand. The marque’s Race Gold color festoons the outline of the radiator grille, front fenders, rear apron, and rear diffusor blade, as well as the 21-inch AMG Forged Cross-Spoke wheels, among other components. There’s even a checkered-flag pattern on the front flanks. The Race Gold theme continues inside, seen on such trim elements as the upholstery’s contrast stitching, the steering wheel’s carbon fiber, and the door panels. The APXGP logo and additional signature badging are also part of the presentation. Other amenities include an 1,170-watt, 15-speaker Burmester audio system and the AMG Track Pace system, which records data during circuit sessions.

Yet while details about the car are plentiful, less is known about the movie, although its authentic portrayal of track competition has already been well publicized. Racing scenes were shot on actual Formula 1 circuits during grand prix weekends. Also surmised by the movie trailer is that the plot surrounds fictional driver Sonny Hayes, played by actor Brad Pitt. The racer is searching for redemption and validation in the cockpit of a Formula 1 race car, and must vie for the spotlight with a teammate played by Damson Idris. The two are competing under the banner of the APXGP team overseen by actor Javier Bardem’s character.

The movie, from Apple Original Films, was produced and directed by Joseph Kosinski—with Top Gun: Maverick to his credit. It also had a number of co-producers, most notable being Pitt himself, in association with his Plan B Entertainment, and seven-time Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, in conjunction with his own Dawn Apollo Films. Mercedes-AMG’s SL, G-wagen, and GT also appear on screen, as do its official Formula 1 safety and medical cars.

During a recent interview with Robb Report, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver George Russell briefly commented on the film that he, and many of the other drivers and teams, participated in. “The guys have kindly shown us a number of the clips of what they’ve been doing to make it look as realistic as possible,” says Russell. “From what I’ve seen, they’ve done an incredible job, far better than I could have imagined.”

With regards to the GT 63 “APXGP Edition” coupe, Russell had not yet seen it at the time, but had high praise for the AMG GT 63 model in general. “I’ve driven that car a lot. It’s really light and nimble on a racetrack, really easy to get the rear of the car around as well and have a lot of fun,” says Russell. He also mentions “seeing the improvements in the suspension, in the ride, how it transitions from comfort mode to race mode,” and calls it “really good for that sort of versatility.”

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 “APXGP Edition” will be limited to only 52 examples. As for the movie F1, that will be released globally on June 25, though it’s not scheduled to be at North American theaters until June 27.

Click here for more photos of the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 “APXGP Edition” coupe.