Mercedes will supply all Formula 1 safety and medical cars for the 2026 season after Aston Martin ended its involvement with the championship. according to a media reports.
Aston Martin shared responsibility for providing F1’s safety vehicles with Mercedes from 2021 but will not continue into 2026.
The manufacturer faced criticism when it introduced its upgraded Vantage F1 edition. The car weighed 45kg more than the Mercedes AMG GT Black Series and had 200bhp less power.
Aston Martin exits F1 safety car role after five years, Mercedes takes full control
Max Verstappen nicknamed the Aston Martin the “green turtle” after its deployment at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
“The safety car was driving so slow, it was like a turtle. Unbelievable,” Verstappen said after the Melbourne race. “To drive 140km/h [87mph] on the back straight, there was not a damaged car, so I don’t understand why we have to drive so slowly. We have to investigate.”
Aston Martin introduced an improved Vantage for the 2024 season. The car delivered a 150bhp boost to 656bhp through bigger turbochargers, more cooling and new camshafts.
According to a report by The Race, at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, the manufacturer introduced the Vantage S as its safety car. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produced around 670bhp.
The car featured aerodynamic upgrades, including a new rear deck spoiler, and other performance improvements. Aston Martin has not confirmed why it ended its safety car involvement. The decision could be down to commercial reasons.
A statement from the team said the deal had “concluded at the end of the 2025 season” but noted it had been beneficial during Aston Martin’s first years back on the grid.
“Having amplified the brand’s return to F1, we are grateful for the association and success of holding this critical role on the grid for the past five years,” the statement said.
Mercedes to provide all F1 safety and medical cars in 2026
Mercedes will supply safety and medical cars for the entire 2026 season, the report said. Mercedes has been the supplier of F1 safety cars since 1996. Since 2022 it has used its Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series model.
The car has been painted red with branding from team sponsor CrowdStrike, which brought commercial benefits to its involvement.
The medical car is a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S. The car produces 639hp and can accelerate from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.2 seconds.
