Longtime supplier Mercedes, which operates a track-focused sports car with 720 horsepower, the AMG GT Black Series, and the updated Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition have split safety car responsibilities since 2021.
In comparison to the Mercedes, the outgoing Aston model has about 200 fewer horsepower, less downforce, and weighs 45 kg more.
Max Verstappen famously called the Vantage a “turtle” for not circulating quickly enough to allow drivers to maintain tyre temperature, given the ensuing discrepancy in lap time, with the Mercedes estimated to be five seconds quicker.
During the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, the current three-time world champion made the following statement: “The safety car was moving like a turtle, very slow.” Incredible.
“There was not a single damaged car, so I don’t understand why we have to drive so slowly when we can drive 140 [km/h] on the back straight.” We need to look into this.
“This Aston Martin is extremely slow, so the Mercedes safety car with the additional aero is undoubtedly faster. Our tires were completely cold, so it clearly needs more traction.”
“It’s pretty terrible the way we are driving behind the safety car at the moment.”
Aston will, however, be introducing a new safety vehicle this season in keeping with the Vantage’s extensive updates as part of a mid-life makeover.
Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine from AMG has been upgraded with larger turbochargers, more cooling, and new camshafts to produce 656 horsepower in addition to updated bodywork and a new grille.
Ahead of the first day of F1 preseason testing in Bahrain, the new Vantage has been spotted in the lab. It is dressed in a camouflage livery of dark green and black and has a rear wing.
According to Motorsport.com, the new Vantage will make its debut at the second race of the campaign, the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Saudi state oil company Aramco heavily brands the Aston Martin F1 team and its Vantage safety car.
On February 12, the new Vantage, its GT3 racing counterpart, and the AMR24 F1 competitor were all introduced.
Another product from Aston is the F1 medical car, which was renamed in 2023 in honor of its power output from the DBX sports utility vehicle to the upgraded 707 model.