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Aston Martin Ends F1 Safety-Car Role as Mercedes Becomes Sole Supplier for 2026

The company says its five-year deal ended after 2025, marking Mercedes' full-time return to safety and medical car duties.

There will be no more Aston Martin Safety Cars
Aston Martin will no longer supply the Safety Car or Medical Car in F1. Image: XPB Images
Image
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 25: Aston Martin Vantage, F1 safety car in action during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Aston Martin confirmed its agreement to supply Formula 1's FIA safety and medical cars concluded at the end of 2025 and will not continue in 2026.
  • Mercedes will provide the support fleet at every round in 2026, using the AMG GT Black Series as the safety car and a GT 63 S–based model as the medical car.
  • The manufacturers had alternated safety and medical car duties since 2021, after Mercedes previously held the role exclusively from 1996 to 2020.
  • Aston Martin's Vantage initially drew criticism for pace—most notably Max Verstappen’s 'green turtle' remark—before power and aero upgrades in 2024 and a Vantage S update in 2025.
  • Veteran driver Bernd Mayländer remains at the wheel of the safety car in 2026, and Aston Martin has not provided an official reason for ending its course-car programme.