F1 News: Upgraded Aston Martin Safety Car Spotted In Bahrain Ahead Of Pre-Season Testing
Ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season, an upgraded Aston Martin safety car, boasting 150 more horsepower than its predecessor, has been unveiled during testing in Bahrain.
Key Takeaways:
- The 2024 Formula 1 season will feature an upgraded Aston Martin safety car with 656 bhp, 150 more than its predecessor. The enhancements include larger turbochargers, improved cooling, new camshafts, and revised bodywork.
- The new Vantage, unveiled on February 12, will debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this year, featuring a dark green and black AMR camouflage livery and a rear wing.
- Aston Martin shares safety car duties with Mercedes and also contributes to medical duties with the upgraded Formula 1 medical car, transitioning to the 707 variant in 2023. The increased power output addresses concerns raised by Max Verstappen during the 2022 Australian Grand Prix about the safety car’s speed.
The new Vantage, featuring a dark green and black AMR camouflage livery with a rear wing, was unveiled on February 12, alongside the AMR24 F1 challenger and its GT3 race car. It is reported to be introduced for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this year, as per a report by Autosport.
Since 2021, the responsibility for safety car duties has been divided between the established provider Mercedes, which operates a 720bhp AMG GT Black Series track-focused sports car, and the enhanced Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition.
Aston Martin not only serves as the safety car but also plays a crucial role in medical car duties for Formula 1. In 2023, there was an upgrade to the Formula 1 medical car, transitioning from the standard DBX sports utility model to the enhanced 707 variant, named in acknowledgment of its power output.
The increase in the Vantage’s power output should address Max Verstappen’s concerns. He had expressed dissatisfaction during the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, stating that the Vantage was too slow, akin to a “turtle,” and was not effective in helping F1 drivers maintain optimal tire temperatures. Here’s what Verstappen had said:
“To drive 140 [km/h] on the back straight, there was not a damaged car, so I don’t understand why we have to drive so slowly. We have to investigate.
“For sure, the Mercedes safety car is faster because of the extra aero, because this Aston Martin is really slow. It definitely needs more grip because our tires were stone cold.
“It’s pretty terrible the way we are driving behind the safety car at the moment.”
As the Formula 1 community gears up for another exhilarating season, the upgraded Aston Martin safety car promises to enhance both the safety and excitement of the sport, addressing concerns raised in previous seasons and providing drivers with a more capable vehicle on track.
