Aston Martin to deploy Vantage, DBX to F1 as safety, medical cars

MANILA: Aston Martin fans are anticipating the comeback of the brand to FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of this month — and not just through its participating team.

Aston Martin Official Safety and Medical Cars will be seen in action during the three-day pre-season test at Bahrain on March 12 to 14, 2021 and during the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship after two weeks. The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 will happen on March 28.

The new safety car to be featured at the Formula One is regarded as a "pinnacle of Vantage performance" since it only needed some changes to comply with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

Aston Martin DBX, the well-known SUV of the brand, will act as an Official Medical Car of Formula 1. It will demonstrate its own handling capability and power as part of its support during emergencies.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin Vantage, the Official Safety Car of Formula 1 (an honor the brand will share with Mercedes-Benz), will be driven by Bernd Mayländer (DE), the assigned driver of FIA. He has been in charge of the F1 safety car for more than 20 years. 

Aston Martin Lagonda CEO Tobias Movers assigned the engineering group for the improvement of the sporting Vantage, which will focus on enhanced lap times and track performance.

The four-liter twin-turbo V8 engine generates an increased power output of 528hp and a peak torque of 685Nm.

The vaned grille matched with a new front splitter produces 155.6 kg of downforce at 200kph, which is over 60 kg more than the production Vantage that operates at a similar speed.

Changes to the dampers, steering, and suspension and further detailed underbody bracing alterations to enhance front structural stiffness have all been done.

All of these, coupled with an extensive aerodynamic kit and a shift to lower profile tires, allow the Aston Martin Vantage Official F1 Safety Car to gain authority in handling a Formula 1 circuit.

Some advancements in the safety car include an efficient cooling system for extreme temperatures and conditions, additional vents in the bonnet to bolster cooling, carbon-ceramic brakes (similar to that of the production Vantage), and additional brake ducts concealed within the front grille for additional cooling.

The safety car is similar to the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team Car due to its all-new paint color, the 2021 Aston Martin Racing Green, which was specifically made to commemorate the brand's comeback to Formula 1 racing after more than six decades.

Aside from having a Lime Essence pinstripe that emphasizes the front splitter, the F1 safety car appears to be distinct through its custom-made roof-mounted LED light-bar that is positioned on a carbon-fiber plinth, an LED rear number plate, body side mounted radio antennas, and noticeable FIA safety car livery all developed by Aston Martin.

Other features include bright orange lights on the external corners on the light-bar for greater illumination, a centrally positioned amber flashing light, two centrally positioned green lights, taillamps and headlamps,  an LED-illuminated rear number plate that shows "Safety Car" for greater visibility in any weather condition, and a rear facing camera that enables the co-driver to determine what is happening at the rear.

The aerodynamic profile is engineered to provide the least possible resistance while offering maximum air flow towards the well-emphasized rear wing.

Inside, some advancements include the FIA-approved racing seats with six-point safety harness, two screens on the dashboard for live entertainment and various customizable information displays along with track positioning and live lap timing of active race cars, a modified center console, a rotary dial that occupies the previous position of the cup holder, and a switch control system for effective control on  the light-bar LEDs, radio communications, and siren activation.

The "Marshalling System" is incorporated into the dashboard and instrument cluster, enabling both the co-driver and driver to know which color flag is being displayed on the track. TV cameras are also installed inside and on top of the car for live TV footage.

Similar to the safety car, the Aston Martin DBX is distinguished by Aston Martin Racing Green paint with Lime Green accents, along with a roof-mounted LED light bar positioned upon the roof rails, LED rear number plate, an exhaust system, and noticeable FIA medical livery.

It is powered by a four-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine, which produces torque of 700Nm and a power output of 542hp. This guarantees that the FIA medical team will be able to effectively respond during an emergency.

The interior trim fully represents that of a customer vehicle and some modifications and advancements  that were made include the removal of the central rear seat and replacement with sport bucket seats that have a six-point safety harness, the installation of the "Marshalling System" and the rearview mirror camera display, mounting of two screens on the dashboard for live race footage, and an additional screen for reading live biometric information detected through the gloves of the driver.

The Official Medical Car will also carry equipment such as a burn kit, two fire extinguishers, a defibrillator, and a large medical bag, which goes into the car's 632 liters of boot space.

Photos from Aston Martin

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