The latest Aston Martin Vantage is set to lead the Formula 1 grid for the 2024 season, starting at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Aston Martin’s strong partnership with Formula 1 looks set to continue in earnest as the new Vantage takes over from its predecessor in the role of official safety car. In a display of confidence in its new road car, Aston Martin says that the car set to keep the F1 grid safe does not feature any modifications to its engine, cooling or braking systems over the standard car.
Aston has made changes elsewhere, however. For greater stability on track, the Vantage gets aerodynamic upgrades including a reworked underfloor section, splitter and a new rear wing. The FIA-specified light bar has also been reprofiled for greater aerodynamic efficiency. The car is finished in Aston’s signature Podium Green paint to match that of its Formula 1 racer cousins piloted by Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.
Inside, the Vantage safety car gets a pair of racing seats and a bespoke centre console to house various FIA systems and screens, with the latter showing live lap times, car track position and a rear-view camera.
As before, the car’s driver for the season is veteran racer Bernd Mayländer, who seems very happy with his new company car.
“It is a pleasure to drive the Aston Martin Vantage. The car comes from an incredible bloodline and this newest version is the fastest yet,” Mayländer said. “My first impressions were very positive as I could immediately feel the improvement in handling and, of course, power.”
“We need a car that is fast and focused so we can respond quickly and safely when we receive the call for on-track deployment and Vantage provides that,” he said.
The previous Vantage safety car spawned a road-going special edition called the Vantage F1 Edition; while unconfirmed, it’s likely that a similar car will arrive off the back of the new car’s continued safety car role.
The new Aston Martin Vantage safety car joins the existing Aston Martin DBX707 medical car in the support car lineup. Both are set to take to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this race weekend when FP1 starts on Thursday, 7 March.
Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes, meanwhile, enter the race in 5th position in the constructor’s standings after the season opener in Bahrain. Drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll sit in 9th and 10th place in the driver’s standings respectively.
2024 Aston Martin Vantage: price, details and spec
The new Aston Martin Vantage is a thoroughly updated take on the AM6-generation car. The new Vantage retains much of the previous model’s underpinnings but gets more power, an all-new interior and updated styling to bring it in line with its larger DB12 sibling. Prices are yet to be confirmed but reports suggest a starting point of around £165,000. The first customer cars are expected to be delivered in Q2 this year.
The new car is 30mm wider than before, with a front end dominated by a 38% larger grille and new backswept headlights featuring Aston’s new daytime running light signature. A sidestrake now runs along the side of the car, while the more familiar-looking rear end gets a wider rear diffuser and larger exhausts. The new Vantage also features frameless doors and ‘presenting’ door handles.
The interior of the Vantage has enjoyed a DB12-style wholesale upgrade, complete with new dashboard, steering wheel, seats and Aston Martin’s new proprietary infotainment system. Optional equipment includes a 15-speaker 1170W Bowers & Wilkins stereo system and carbon fibre sports seats.
The usual vast array of paint finish options is joined by a new optional livery designs, which add a coloured accent to the grille and bodykit to create a look reminiscent of the track-going Vantage GT3 racer that has also received a thorough update.
Power comes from the same AMG-derived twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine as before, albeit with reworked cam profiles, optimised compression ratios, a pair of larger turbos and a thoroughly upgrading cooling system. The result, Aston claims, is “an engine with a sharper, more visceral and more vocal character”.
Performance is duly improved over the outgoing car; peak power is up 30% at 655PS (646bhp), with peak torque increased to 800Nm, up 15%. The result is 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202mph. A recalibrated eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox with a shorter final drive sends power to the rear wheels via an electronically controlled differential. Launch control also features, alongside adjustable traction control to dial in slip.
Underneath, the new Vantage boasts greater rigidity than before thanks to a re-engineered front crossmember, a revised front cross brace and further strengthening to the rear. The improvements to the car’s chassis allow new intelligent adaptive dampers operate at their bests, with “a 500% increase in bandwidth of force distribution over previous generation hardware”, according to Aston Martin. Variable electronic power steering acts on a non-isolated steering column for greater driver feedback.
The Vantage sits on forged 21-inch alloys as standard, fitted with model-specific AML-coded Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tyres measuring in at 275/35 at the front and 325/30 at the rear. The standard braking system comprises 400mm front and 360mm rear discs, with carbon ceramic alternatives also offered.
The Vantage will face off against the Porsche 911 in GTS and Turbo form, as well as the recently revealed new Mercedes-AMG GT, a car whose engine is related to that found in the Aston. The similarly new Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo is another impressive rival, having recently benefited from its own comprehensive redesign and a switch to V6 power.
