New Aston Martin Vantage Confirmed As Formula 1 Safety Car

It’d be an understatement to say that Max Verstappen was not a fan of the old Aston Martin Vantage Formula 1 safety car. After the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, the reigning champ dubbed the coupe “like a turtle,” with its apparently slow pace causing him to lose tyre temperature during a safety car period.

Well, we’ve good news, Max - Aston now has a considerably more powerful version of the Vantage, and it’s been officially confirmed as one of Formula 1’s safety cars for the 2024 season, once again alternating with the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series between Grand Prix.

There’s still a fairly chunky power deficit to the mightiest AMG GT, which produces 720bhp and also generates a whole lot more downforce, but the updated Vantage’s 656bhp V8 (also the work of Mercedes-AMG, as it happens) brings the gap down considerably. Meanwhile, the safety car version has gained unique under-body aero, a bespoke rear wing, a new front splitter (we'd expect these to arrive on a limited edition Vantage at some point) and even an aero-optimised lightbar to reduce drag. 

Thanks to a 30 per cent uplift in power, the twin-turbocharged engine provides a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds. To go with that and the new aero bits, there’s also an overhauled structure and chassis for the Vantage, meaning driver Bernd Mayländer should have no trouble flinging the car through the corners of the world’s most famous circuits with 20 F1 cars in tow. 

He had this to say about his new ‘company car’:

“It is a pleasure to drive the Aston Martin Vantage. The car comes from an incredible bloodline and this newest version is the fastest yet. My first impressions were very positive as I could immediately feel the improvement in handling and, of course, power. We need a car that is fast and focused so we can respond quickly and safely when we receive the call for on-track deployment and Vantage provides that.”

The new Vantage will make its safety car debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend. Meanwhile, the DBX707 SUV will continue its duties as the official medical car.