Since 2021, safety car duties have been shared between long-standing supplier Mercedes - which runs a 720bhp AMG GT Black Series track-focused sports car - and the upgraded Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition.

That outgoing Aston model is almost 200bhp less powerful than the Mercedes, produces less downforce and is 45kg heavier.

Given the subsequent difference in lap time, with the Mercedes estimated to be five seconds quicker, Max Verstappen famously labelled the Vantage a “turtle” for not circulating fast enough to allow drivers to maintain tyre temperature.

Speaking at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, the now reigning three-time world champion said: "The safety car was driving so slow, it was like a turtle. Unbelievable.

"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 tyres were stone cold.

"It's pretty terrible the way we are driving behind the safety car at the moment.

However, Aston is set to debut a new safety car this season in line with the Vantage having been heavily updated as part of a mid-life refresh.

Along with revised bodywork and new grille, power has been increased by 150bhp to 656bhp courtesy of bigger turbochargers, more cooling and new camshafts for its AMG-supplied 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8