P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes will supply the only safety car in Formula 1 in 2026. RacingNews365 understands that Aston Martin has decided to cancel the contract after five years of shared service.
Aston Martin has decided not to renew its contract as Formula 1’s co-safety car supplier for the upcoming season, marking the end of its contentious chapter in the role.
Since 1996, Mercedes has been the main provider of F1 safety vehicles and had to share the duty with Aston Martin in 2021.
Aston Martin’s safety car, the Vantage F1 Edition, faced criticism due to its performance deficits compared to the Mercedes counterpart, drawing harsh comments, including from F1 champion Max Verstappen.
In response to the feedback, Aston Martin introduced revised versions of the safety car, but ultimately decided to withdraw from the role entirely.
Mercedes will resume sole responsibility for providing safety and medical cars from the 2026 season, with the iconic AMG GT Black Series sporting a new red livery sponsored by CrowdStrike instead of the classic silver.
Looking ahead, there’s a possibility that F1 may seek out a new supplier for safety car services.
