When F1 Dreams Go Up in Smoke: Another Mercedes-AMG One Lost to Fire
By Team Dailyrevs June 3, 2025
• A second Mercedes-AMG One has burned to the ground, adding to the car’s growing reliability concerns.
• The F1-inspired hybrid system may be more complex than practical for road use.
• Mercedes has not released an official explanation, but investigations are reportedly underway.
Another One Bites the Dust
In a disheartening turn of events, another Mercedes-AMG One hypercar has been reduced to ashes. This marks the second time one of these ultra-rare cars has caught fire, following a similar incident in 2023. The most recent blaze occurred in Germany, where the car erupted in flames on a public road. Despite rapid emergency response, the car was a total loss — a painful outcome considering the vehicle’s nearly $2.7 million price tag and its place in automotive history.
Only 275 units of the AMG One were ever planned for production, making the destruction of even one a significant dent in the model’s legacy. When two are lost to fire in quick succession, it stops being a coincidence and starts sounding like a pattern.
Engineering Marvel or Overcomplicated Machine?
The Mercedes-AMG One is a technical showpiece. Underneath its carbon-fiber bodywork lies a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 derived directly from Formula 1, paired with four electric motors and a highly sophisticated energy recovery system. The combined output tops 1,000 horsepower, making it one of the most extreme road-legal machines ever produced.
But extreme complexity often comes with tradeoffs. From day one, engineers faced difficulty adapting the F1 powertrain to meet global emissions regulations and daily drivability standards. This wasn’t just a matter of tuning — the team reportedly spent years just getting the engine to idle reliably below 4,000 RPM for street use. That kind of compromise doesn’t come without risks, and two incinerated cars later, the warning lights are flashing.
Safety and Reliability Under the Microscope
With two fire-related losses out of 275 units, that's nearly 1% of the total production already gone — not from accidents, but from what appears to be internal combustion-related failures. While no injuries have been reported, the imagery of a multi-million-dollar hypercar engulfed in flames is deeply unsettling for current owners and potential buyers alike.
Mercedes-AMG has yet to issue a public explanation, though internal investigations are said to be ongoing. In the meantime, the brand’s silence is fueling speculation. Was this the cost of pushing the envelope too far? Or is this a fixable anomaly in an otherwise groundbreaking project?
A Wake-Up Call for Hypercar Engineering?
The AMG One was never about convenience. It was about bringing motorsport glory to public roads — and with that came inevitable challenges. But as the second unit smolders in the history books, the automotive community is left to wonder whether this icon was just too advanced for its own good.
Only time will tell if Mercedes can get ahead of this narrative. For now, every AMG One owner is likely watching their engine temperature a little more closely
