Mercedes make surprise astronaut signing to F1 team

Reid Wiseman, the NASA astronaut who commanded the Artemis II mission earlier this year, has been announced as an official ambassador for the Mercedes F1 team.

The retired U.S. Navy Captain led humanity's first crewed mission around the Moon in more than half a century, and the appointment formalises a relationship between Wiseman and the Brackley-based squad that has developed over recent seasons.

As part of his new role, Wiseman will work with Mercedes stakeholders, partners, employees and guests, helping to highlight the innovation and high-performance culture behind the team's operation. 

The team says his experience at the forefront of human exploration will offer fresh perspective on teamwork, decision-making and resilience in environments where the gap between success and failure is razor-thin.

Wiseman said he has long seen parallels between the two worlds.

"I've always been struck by how much Formula 1 and space exploration have in common. In both worlds, success is never about one individual. 

“It is built by talented teams solving difficult problems, preparing relentlessly, and trusting one another when the pressure is at its highest.

"I've been fortunate to spend time with the Mercedes F1 Team in recent seasons and have seen first-hand the culture, innovation, and determination that drives its success. 

“Becoming an ambassador feels like a natural next step in a relationship that has already become very meaningful to me. I'm excited to work with the team and help tell the story of the people, technology, and mindset behind what they achieve."

During the nine-day Artemis II mission, the crew travelled 252,756 miles from Earth, becoming the first humans since Apollo 17 to see the far side of the Moon with their own eyes, and also eclipsed the Apollo 13 distance record for the furthest humans have travelled from Earth, which previously stood at 248,655 miles.

On re-entry, the Orion spacecraft hit speeds of 24,664mph before splashing down within one mile of its planned target, having covered 694,841 miles in total.