Former Astronaut Reid Wiseman Joins Mercedes F1 Team

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is pleased to announce Reid Wiseman as an official Team Ambassador, strengthening a relationship that has grown over recent years through a shared passion for innovation, performance, teamwork, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

A retired U.S. Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut, Reid inspired millions around the world as commander of NASA’s Artemis II mission, humanity's first crewed mission around the Moon in more than half a century. Earlier this year, he was part of the historic mission, helping usher in a new era of space exploration and demonstrating the power of preparation, courage, and collective endeavour.

As an ambassador for the team, Reid will work closely with stakeholders, partners, employees, and guests, helping to showcase the innovation, leadership, and high-performance culture that underpins success in Formula One. Drawing on his unique experiences at the forefront of human exploration, he will bring fresh perspectives on teamwork, decision-making, resilience, and operating in environments where the margins between success and failure are exceptionally small.

F1 and space exploration exist in very different arenas, but both demand extraordinary levels of precision, trust, preparation, and technical excellence. They are disciplines built on relentless innovation and powered by highly skilled teams working together to solve some of the world's most complex challenges. Those shared values have formed the foundation of Reid's relationship with the team and make him a natural addition to the Mercedes F1 family.

Richard Sanders, Chief Commercial Officer of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, said: "Over the past few years, Reid has become a genuine friend of our team. Every conversation leaves you inspired, not just because of where he has been, but because of how he thinks and leads. There are remarkable similarities between F1 and human spaceflight. Both require brilliant people working together, absolute trust in those around you, and the courage to push into the unknown.

"What Reid achieved as commander of Artemis II captured the imagination of millions around the world. We are delighted to welcome him as an ambassador and look forward to sharing his experiences, insights, and perspective with our partners, our team members, and our wider community.”

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Ambassador Reid Wiseman said: "I've always been struck by how much Formula One 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."

Artemis II marked humanity’s return to deep space exploration and represented a critical step towards establishing a sustained human presence beyond Earth. As the first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, it validated the systems, technologies, and operational procedures that will underpin future missions to the lunar surface and, ultimately, journeys to Mars.

During the nine-day mission, the crew travelled 252,756 miles from Earth, venturing farther into space than any humans before them and becoming the first people in more than 50 years, since Apollo 13, to witness the far side of the Moon with their own eyes. The mission tested every aspect of NASA’s Orion spacecraft and deep space operations in the challenging environment beyond low Earth orbit.

The precision required throughout the mission was extraordinary. On re-entry, Orion reached speeds of 24,664mph as it returned through Earth’s atmosphere. After travelling a total distance of 694,841 miles, the spacecraft completed its journey with remarkable accuracy, splashing down within one mile of its planned target. The success of Artemis II provided crucial confidence in the systems and capabilities that will enable future astronauts to return to the Moon, paving the way for a new era of human space exploration.