Aston Martin to withdraw from F1 safety car duties, leaving Mercedes as the only supplier

Mercedes will become the exclusive provider of the Formula 1 safety car and medical car from 2026 after Aston Martin chose not to extend its agreement. 

Since 2021, Aston Martin and Mercedes had shared responsibilities for supplying course cars to F1, with Mercedes fielding the AMG GT Black Series and Aston Martin contributing the Vantage F1 edition as the official safety cars. 

However, Aston Martin’s contract expired at the conclusion of the 2025 season, and the manufacturer has opted not to continue the partnership. 

The Vantage F1 edition introduced by Aston Martin in 2024 featured 656hp from its AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. This represented an upgrade from the earlier, lower-powered version that had attracted criticism from drivers over its reported performance shortcomings. 

Aston Martin also deployed a 697-hp version of the DBX707 luxury SUV as its Formula 1 medical car.

In a statement, the British automaker confirmed the end of its involvement as an F1 safety car supplier.

"Aston Martin’s agreement with Formula 1 to provide the official FIA safety and medical car concluded at the end of the 2025 season,” the automaker said. “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."

With Aston Martin stepping away from both roles, Mercedes is expected to supply its 730-hp AMG GT Black Series at all 24 races of the 2026 campaign, along with its medical car derived from the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+. 

German former racer Bernd Maylander has served as the FIA’s safety car driver since 2000.