Aston Martin has revealed their own safety and medical cars that will share duties alongside Mercedes as the team returns to the championship after a 60-year hiatus.
The British marque has showcased a Vantage Safety Car and a DBX Medical car, both in the company's heritage colour of racing green, that will work alongside the Mercedes AMG GT R Safety Car and C 63 S Estate Medical Car.
Aston Martin's pair are set to make their debut at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix weekend on March 26-28.
The Vantage Safety Car is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, managing 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and, according to a statement from F1 “has undergone suspension and aero modifications to make sure it can lead a pack of 20 F1 cars at sufficient speed to keep tyre temperatures adequate.”
The DBX Medical Car can reach 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds with 542bhp and 700Nm of torque from the same engine as the Vantage, with onboard safety equipment such as a defibrillator, fire extinguishers and a burn kit to respond to medical emergencies.
Mercedes' AMG GT R has a 4.0-litre biturbo V8 and can reach 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, while the C 63 S Estate is modified with FIA-spec medical equipment, as is the DBX.
Mercedes, who have supplied the safety and medical cars to F1 since 1996, have showcased a new look this season with their AMG GT R Safety Car and C 63 S Estate Medical Car both dressed in red, which is a nod to the German manufacturer's Rote Sau racing car, known affectionately as the 'Red Pig' when it raced in the early 1970s.
German racing driver Bernd Maylander will pilot both Aston Martin and Mercedes' Safety Cars, with South African race driver Alan van der Merwe taking the wheel of the Medical Cars partnered by Dr Ian Roberts, the FIA F1 medical response coordinator.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are very pleased to announce our new partnership with both Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG to provide the Official Safety and Medical Cars to the FIA Formula One World Championship.
“Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG are iconic automotive brands, and we are proud of their place in our incredible sport. The safety and medical cars are a hugely important part of Formula 1 and are always there to keep our drivers safe.
Last season we witnessed the heroic speed and dedication required by the crews in rescuing Romain Grosjean from his dramatic accident, and both the Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG cars are perfectly equipped to respond at a moment’s notice to ensure the safety of the drivers,” Domenicali added.
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Keyword: Formula One brings in Aston Martin alongside Mercedes for safety and medical cars