No Aston Martin Safety Car anymore in F1 from 2026

Formula 1 will close a striking chapter in 2026. Aston Martin will disappear entirely from the FIA’s official role as supplier of the safety and medical cars.

This brings an end to five seasons in which the British brand shared that responsibility with Mercedes‑Benz. From next season onward, Mercedes will once again handle the role alone, as it has for most of the past three decades.

For Formula 1, this mainly brings clarity. For Aston Martin, it marks a strategic step back, and for Mercedes, it reaffirms a status the brand has held since 1996: the benchmark when it comes to performance, reliability, and pace during the most critical moments of a Grand Prix

How a Shared Project Never Truly Became Equal

When Aston Martin entered Formula 1 in 2021 as a co‑supplier of the safety car, the intention was clear: more premium flair on the grid and two iconic sports‑car brands in the spotlight. In practice, however, the balance quickly proved difficult to maintain.

The first Aston Martin Vantage Safety Car looked impressive, but was technically at a disadvantage. It was heavier and significantly less powerful than the Mercedes‑AMG GT Black Series, something drivers immediately felt during neutralisations. That led to open frustration from several drivers, with Max Verstappen as the most vocal critic after the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, where he publicly dismissed the Aston Martin as “too slow for the job.”

Upgrades arrived, but the stigma remained

Aston Martin responded. In 2024, the Vantage Safety Car received a major power boost to 656 hp, followed in 2025 by the Vantage S with roughly 670 hp, improved aerodynamics and sharper tuning. The medical car also gained presence with the Aston Martin DBX707, delivering nearly 700 hp.

Even so, the gap with Mercedes remained noticeable. In a sport where restarts, tyre temperature and energy management can decide races, the speed of the safety car is not a minor detail but a strategic factor. And in that area, Aston Martin, despite clear progress, continued to operate in the shadow of its German rival.

Why Aston Martin is stepping away: timing, focus and reality

Officially, Aston Martin keeps it simple: the contract expired after 2025 and was not renewed. Internally, there is appreciation for the visibility the role provided during the brand’s early years back in F1. Unspoken, however, other factors play a role.

The safety‑car role demands continuous technical development, logistical commitment and reputation management. At the same time, Aston Martin is heavily investing in its own F1 team, new road cars and electrification. In that context, it makes sense that the brand chooses focus and priorities. The official FIA role was valuable, but no longer essential.

Mercedes: back to one clear standard

For Mercedes‑AMG, little changes — except that the responsibility becomes exclusive again. In 2026, the brand will supply both the safety car and the medical car at all 24 Grands Prix. The AMG GT Black Series remains the benchmark for neutralisations: extremely fast, stable at high temperatures and perfectly matched to the pace of modern F1 cars. The medical car continues to be the AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+, combining performance with space and reliability.

Behind the wheel remains Bernd Mayländer, the constant factor since 2000 in a sport that rarely stands still. His experience and the trust of teams and the FIA form, together with Mercedes, a combination no one questions.

Our analysis: less spectacle, more calm

The disappearance of Aston Martin means less visual variety on the grid, but more consistency during races. In a Formula 1 that will enter an entirely new technical era from 2026 onward, stability in crucial supporting roles is far from a luxury.

Mercedes regains full confidence. Aston Martin deliberately steps back. And the sport? It gains predictability at moments where neutrality and pace are essential.

Sometimes one benchmark is better than two halves.