The F1 safety and medical cars will be supplied by Aston Martin at more than 50% of races for the 2021 season.
RaceFans understands that a deal has been made for Aston Martin to supply the safety and medical cars at 12 of the planned 23 races next season.
A reliable source said that the existing Mercedes safety and medical cars will not be scrapped and they will feature at 11 of the races, with Aston Martin taking preference for which weekends they will supply their cars for.
It is understood that the decision will be dictated by markets, with Aston Martin expected to pick countries where they have bigger interests, while Mercedes would supply races like the Brazilian Grand Prix where Aston Martin have a smaller market share.
It is believed the Aston safety car will be a Vantage. Racefans understands the medical car at races where Aston Martin supply the cars will be a DBX, which uses the same four-litre V8 engine as the current AMG GT R cars.
The Daimler group, which owns Mercedes Benz, recently took a 20% shareholding in Aston Martin.
A spokesperson for Aston Martin declined to comment on whether they would be be supplying the cars and said “As a manufacturer we are extremely excited and focused on our imminent return to Formula 1 as a full works team, for the first time in more than 60 years, in 2021.”
2020 F1 season
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
William Harriss
17th November 2020, 15:21
god i hope we see a Valkyrie safety car
Mark88
17th November 2020, 15:55
As much as that would be awesome!
I suspect AM will want to advertise a car you can actually buy, my money would be on a DB11 AMR as the base, with a few added extras.
Luke S (@joeypropane)
17th November 2020, 16:24
At least nobody will be able to complain about the safety car going too slow anymore!
VissileF1 (@mark-visser99)
18th November 2020, 13:49
Just going to leave this here…..
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a34699527/2021-mercedes-amg-gt-black-series-breaks-nurburgring-lap-record-643/
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
17th November 2020, 18:24
That would be awesome! The Mercedes AMG cars are fantastic too but it would be nice to see an Aston Martin on track.
RB13
17th November 2020, 15:29
A DBX? An SUV has no place at any race track ever. Should have been a Vantage.
Matthias[Wlkp] (@matthias-wlkp)
17th November 2020, 15:40
DBX will be a medical car. Not sure if there is any other Aston that has 4 doors and Wagon-like body.
BasCB (@bascb)
17th November 2020, 15:47
Exactly this @matthias-wlkp, RB13, what other car should they provide for the medical car than that one?
Dex
17th November 2020, 16:56
Well, maybe the shouldn’t provide it at all then? Just kidding, if this is something important then I don’t know what isn’t anymore…
kuvemar
17th November 2020, 15:38
I like the recent AM developments, even though I’d rather not see Vettel in the team. But it seems to work, stock has picked up over 50 % over the last month.
BasCB (@bascb)
17th November 2020, 15:49
It finally does seem like there is actually a plan and they are working towards it. Getting an F1 team, signing a top name to it. Agreeing with Mercedes about bigger cooperation to secure long term access to quality engines, making sure their cars get shown off at races in markets they are big in.
Looks like things are going according to plan. Off course we will only get to find out whether it works in a few years, but it certainly looks like there IS a path to somewhere.
Dewald Nel (@ho3n3r)
17th November 2020, 17:25
For a medical car? Maybe you misread, otherwise you’ll have a stroke if you google what the current medical car is.
Dave (@davewillisporter)
17th November 2020, 16:18
This makes total sense! Tobias Moers knows a thing or two about leveraging F1.
Saad Mughal
17th November 2020, 16:24
People may not like stroll snr but so far it seems he’s a smart guy business wise. Good moves for marketing.
Looking forward to seeing the new cars. It’s been more than 20 years since the last non merc safety car. I thought Ferrari would be the first to end that trend
Aiii (@)
17th November 2020, 16:30
Bernd Mayländer has one of the best jobs on the planet.
Mog
18th November 2020, 0:26
Driving fast cars for f1 ….slowly:)
Jack (@jackisthestig)
18th November 2020, 6:36
Absolutely! He’s paid to travel the world with the lifestyle of an F1 driver but without the relentless fitness regime, constant media intrusion and soul searching of a competing sportsman. To think how many millions people like Roy Nissany pay to stand around at the back of the garage with a pair of headphones on without ever turning a wheel on the circuit, he’s a lucky man indeed.
Napier Railton (@napierrailton)
17th November 2020, 16:36
Finally! the end is in sight for Mercedes domination!
Aiii (@)
17th November 2020, 16:45
Either that or it’s gonna be the same Mercedes safety car as the other races except this one is painted pink.
JGTorres
17th November 2020, 20:58
British racing green from next year. maybe with a splash of pink
BasCB (@bascb)
18th November 2020, 6:49
Ha.
Qeki (@qeki)
17th November 2020, 17:45
Anybody up for Aston Martin Cygnet as a safety car ;)
DaveW (@dmw)
17th November 2020, 17:52
So when will we have the MB vs. Aston Martin safety car race? Between FP1 and FP2? After morning warm up?
pastaman (@)
17th November 2020, 19:15
I love how they always slip in “full works team” any chance they get.
JimG (@jimg)
18th November 2020, 11:49
@pastaman I agree.
Doesn’t “full works” mean building their own engine?
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
17th November 2020, 20:20
Pathetic. Ironic and the whole thing exudes transparency as the f1 team aston martin is likewise most definitely a merc.
Becky
17th November 2020, 21:44
You are right especially with Merc 20percent share
Darko Vusir
18th November 2020, 17:02
Mercedes will own 20% of Aston Martin, the car company, not the team.
Jeorge (@jeorge)
18th November 2020, 5:23
No Lamborghini?
Fingers still crossed (yeah I can see my profile pic)
Darren Moore
18th November 2020, 6:45
Their F1 cars will be sharing parts, so they may as well share safety car duties as well.
Pirataf1 (@pirataf1)
18th November 2020, 21:10
The Aston Martin that will share the grid next year will be the DB11 AMR and it should be noted that this model uses an AMG V8 engine, so there will always be a Mercedes as a safety car. I also remind you that the Germans have shares in the British company and that from 2021, it will increase a percentage of its stake. In one way or another, Mercedes-Benz wins in image and in its business.