Aston Martin exits F1 safety car program - Mercedes goes solo

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In a definitive shift for Formula 1’s trackside operations, the iconic British wings of Aston Martin are folding.

After five years of sharing the spotlight – and the asphalt – with Mercedes-Benz, the Gaydon-based manufacturer has officially pulled the plug on its safety and medical car program, leaving the Silver Arrows to reclaim total dominance of the grid's most critical support roles for the 2026 season.

Since 2021, F1 had grown accustomed to the alternating shades of "British Racing Green" and "Mercedes Red" leading the pack during neutralised racing.

However, with the expiration of its contract with F1 at the end of 2025, Aston Martin has opted to walk away, ending an era that saw its 656-hp Vantage and 697-hp DBX707 SUV become as much a part of the weekend furniture as the grandstands themselves.

A Legacy of Performance and 'The Green Turtle'

The journey was not without its bumps. Early in the partnership, Aston Martin faced sharp criticism from several drivers, most notably Max Verstappen, who infamously dubbed the previous, less powerful Vantage a "green turtle" for its perceived lack of pace.

Aston responded aggressively, delivering a heavily upgraded 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 model in 2024 to silence the doubters.

Despite these engineering triumphs, the brand has decided its mission is complete. In an official statement, the automaker confirmed the departure with a tone of professional finality:

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

“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."

Balancing the Books Under Lawrence Stroll

Aston Martin’s decision to step back comes as executive chairman Lawrence Stroll navigates a treacherous financial landscape.

While the Canadian billionaire’s F1 team is gearing up for a "works" future with Honda, Aston, has been battling significant headwinds. Reports from late 2025 indicated that the brand was grappling with debts exceeding £1 billion and a decline in wholesale volumes, exacerbated by cooling demand in China and the bite of global trade tariffs.

Under Stroll’s pointed leadership, the company has been forced into aggressive cost-optimisation programs and multiple rounds of capital raising to stabilise its balance sheet, likely making the high-cost logistics of a global safety car program an expensive luxury the brand can no longer justify.

With Aston Martin’s exit, the 2026 season marks a return to the status quo.

Mercedes-AMG will now supply its 730-hp GT Black Series and GT 63 S 4MATIC+ for all 24 rounds of the championship.

For Bernd Mayländer, the FIA’s veteran safety car driver since 2000, it’s back to a full-time seat in German machinery as F1 enters its brave new regulatory era.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.