Aston Martin issue statement over key F1 exit

Aston Martin has issued an official statement following its exit as a Formula 1 safety car supplier.

It emerged on Monday that the British manufacturer had ended its agreement to share safety car duties with Mercedes at the end of last year, having decided against continuing the partnership for 2026.

As a result, Mercedes once again finds itself as the sole supplier of F1’s safety and medical cars, just as it did from 1996 to 2020, before Aston Martin’s arrival in 2021.

Aston Martin’s five-year stint as a safety and medical car supplier was not without its issues, often relating to the weight and performance of the vehicles it produced.

The Vantage F1 Edition, Aston Martin’s initial safety car, suffered from a significant performance deficit compared to its Mercedes rival, being both heavier and considerably less powerful.

This led to criticism within the paddock, including from Max Verstappen, who dubbed Aston Martin’s safety car the “green turtle” due to its colour and lack of performance.

Improvements were made through the introduction of newer designs, yet the decision has still been taken to end Aston Martin’s role as an F1 safety car supplier.

An Aston Martin statement read: "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."