The Mercedes-AMG One hypercar was launched in 2022 after the concept was revealed a few years back. The AMG One’s star feature? The Hypercar came exclusively with an actual F1 engine. The engine from the 2016 Mercedes-Benz W06 Formula 1 championship-winning car, which was piloted by none other than the legend, Lewis hamilton, was tuned to fit and drive under the road regulations.
This Hypercar boasted features like no other: the F1 engine, front active fender ducts, and active DRS system with a hybrid boost, which helped this car burn rubber on the track like no other race car could, yet it is still believed to be a flop. Let’s find out if those beliefs are true.
Mercedes-AMG One – Design

The exterior design of this hypercar looks like this is a road-legal Le Mans race car, which in performance it is quite close to. Low, sculpted body with cuts and sharp edges everywhere makes the aerodynamics of this vehicle resemble that of a puffer fish. The front fenders have active winglet intakes that can generate downforce. The front itself has a massive air intake that channels air to the underside of the car.
The rear features a very sophisticated rear spoiler with an integrated DRS system that can generate low and high amounts of downforce depending on which state or speed the car is being driven in. The rear itself has massive vents as this car’s engine generates a lot of heat, which needs to be channelled out through these vents. This car’s exterior design is very busy and functional yet still manages to look extremely cool.
Interior
The interior of the Mercedes-AMG One is a minimalist cockpit designed for performance and driver focus. Inspired directly by Formula 1, the cabin features two racing-style bucket seats integrated into the carbon-fibre monocoque, offering a low driving position. The yoke-style steering wheel, loaded with controls and digital displays, puts vital functions at the driver’s fingertips, echoing an F1 car’s layout. Dual high-resolution screens, one for the driver and one for infotainment, deliver real-time data and navigation, and other car statistics.

Materials inside the AMG One are premium yet purpose-driven, with exposed carbon fiber, Alcantara, and matte-finish metal elements emphasizing its motorsport pedigree. Storage is minimal, reinforcing the car’s focus on performance rather than luxury. Adjustable pedals and steering column offer customisation, but everything else is fixed to reduce weight and enhance rigidity. With a race-inspired design and high-tech digital features, the interior of the AMG One brings the spirit of the track directly to the road. The interior of this vehicle is not something you would typically expect from a brand like Mercedes-Benz.
Here’s Where Things Get Complicated
At this vehicle’s heart sits a 1.6-litre single turbocharged V6. The turbo is split between the intake and exhaust, which allows a 120 HP electric motor to sit between it, spooling up the boost before exhaust pressure would have it ready. This is what F1 commentators call the MGU-H system, and it effectively reduces turbo lag.

On the back of the engine, which produces 566 HP alone, is a bigger 161 HP electric motor, and they both drive the rear axle. Each of the front wheels has another 161bhp electric motor, which doesn’t exist in the F1 car, making this hypercar an all wheel drive.
Another mindblowing thing is that the torque specification is impossible to calculate, as mentioned by Mercedes-AMG themselves, as it’s extremely high, but as most of the power is generated by motors, we presume it’s “extremely high and rich in torque”. The transmission is also closely related to F1s and is built by XTRAC. All of this for a combined output of 1049 BHP and a 0-100 time of just 2.9 seconds.
What Went Wrong?
In today’s book of FIA’s engine regulations for Formula 1, putting the regulated engine into a road-going race car is simply impossible. Mercedes-Benz tried to do the impossible, and they succeeded, well, partially

The deliveries started in 2022, and since then, 2 hypercars out of the 275 exclusive models have burned down. These fires were effectively started due to the immense heat that the F1 Power unit produces, which is simply impractical to handle in a road car. Other than that, this hypercar is so highly unreliable that customers and reviewers have stated multiple times that it barely ever starts.

Along with that, at 10 Million AED, the AMG One is just a few seconds quicker than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS around the Nurburgring and no faster than a Ferrari SF90, making the “Formula 1 performance on the road” statement just bland. For that much money, Hypercars like the Porsche 918 are much preferred by collectors, and hence, this vehicle has flopped and not lived up to the hype.
Verdict
Whether the AMG One is a flop or the real deal, is highly irrelevant to the fact that Mercedes-Benz tried to do the impossible that no one can still think of even today, putting an F1 engine directly into a road car and offering it to customers is something no other brand offers, and itself is highly respectable.

Other than that, this hypercar is a flop. With extremely high reliability issues, engines catching fire, and electrical issues, you’re better off with a 2018 Range Rover Vogue, which might be as unreliable as this vehicle but will save you millions.