Reid Wiseman appointed Mercedes F1 ambassador
Former NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman has joined the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team as an official ambassador. The appointment formalises an existing relationship and draws on his Artemis II command experience to support stakeholder engagement and high-performance culture initiatives ahead of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.
Announcement details
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team announced on 21 October 2026 that former NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman has been appointed an official team ambassador.[1][2] The role formalises a relationship developed over recent seasons between Wiseman and the Brackley-based squad.[1]
Wiseman, a retired US Navy captain, commanded the Artemis II mission earlier in 2026, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.[3] In his new capacity he will work with stakeholders, partners, employees and guests to showcase the team's innovation, leadership and high-performance culture.[1]
Role and timing
The appointment was revealed ahead of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin.[2] Mercedes chief commercial officer Richard Sanders described Wiseman as a genuine friend of the team whose mindset and leadership qualities align with Formula 1 demands.[1]
Wiseman has stated that parallels between space exploration and Formula 1, particularly teamwork under pressure, made the ambassador position a natural step.[1]
Related reading
- [1]Former Astronaut Reid Wiseman Joins Mercedes F1 Team (mercedesamgf1). Accessed 2026-10-25.
- [2]Mercedes reaches for the stars with astronaut team ambassador (f1i). Accessed 2026-10-25.
- [3]NASA astronotu Reid Wiseman, Mercedes'in yeni elçisi oldu (motorsport). Accessed 2026-10-25.