Aston Martin, Mercedes to share F1 safety car duties

FILE – The car of Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton is pictured after he won the pole position during the qualifying session at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza on September 5, 2020 ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix. (Photo by JENNIFER LORENZINI / POOL / AFP)

LONDON – Formula One’s official safety and medical cars will be provided by both Aston Martin and Mercedes at different events this season, the governing body FIA confirmed on Monday.

Mercedes had been sole supplier of both cars since 1996, but the sharing arrangement was flagged up last year.

Aston Martin is returning as a constructor this season for the first time in 60 years with the rebranded Racing Point team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.

The Mercedes-AMG GTR and C63S cars will have a new red livery while the Aston Martin Vantage and DBX cars, to debut at the Bahrain season-opener on March 28, will be green.

Germany’s Bernd Maylander and South African Alan van der Merwe will remain safety and medical car drivers respectively.

The Mercedes cars will be used at the second race at Imola in Italy and the two carmakers will split the remainder of the season.

Aston Martin’s cars use Mercedes 4.0 liter biturbo V8 engines and Mercedes have a stake in the British sportscar maker.

“The safety and medical cars are an essential part of running a safe and successful FIA Formula One World Championship event, from track tests and inspections to race interventions and neutralisations,” race director Michael Masi said.