The medical car plays a vital role in Formula 1: getting medical help to drivers as soon as possible if it's needed. So what better than the powerful luxury SUV in the world to carry out this vital role as effectively as possible? In fact, for the 2023 season, one of the two Official Medical Car is the Aston Martin DBX707. Giving the British SUV even more performance are the Pirelli P Zero tyres that have been specially developed for it.
What's needed to be the official Medical Car of Formula 1?
Speed and power are the main prerequisites, and the Aston Martin DBX707 is lacking in neither. It's powered by a twin-turbo V8 that can put out 707CV, which propels it to a maximum speed of 300kph and accelerates from 0-100kph in just 3.1 seconds. Having enough space for all the medical equipment is another important attribute, as the car has to accommodate vital items that range from fire extinguishers to medical bags to defibrillators. The passengers also need to keep in touch with race control, monitor the biometric data from the drivers on track, and watch the live television footage, in order to anticipate any type of incident. Both the DBX707 and the Aston Martin Vantage (used as one of the two official Safety Car) sport the same iconic shade of Aston Martin Racing Green as the team's two competing race cars.
P Zero tyres made to measure
In order to cope with the Aston Martin DBX707's extremely high levels of performance, Pirelli's engineers have created new tailor-made tyres: the P Zero in 285/35R23 size at the front and 325/30R23 at the back. These P Zero tyres benefit from a compound that's derived from that used by Aston Martin's famed grand touring models in order to enhance performance as much as possible. The considerable size of this tyre allows for a more direct steering response and increased cornering speeds on track. For those wanting a tyre that they can use all year round on many different types of road surface – dry, wet or snowy – the Scorpion Zero All Season is also available.
Pirelli in Formula 1
From medical cars to cutting-edge single-seaters, Pirelli's link to Formula 1 is increasingly solid. Pirelli tyres have been associated with the pinnacle of motorsport right from the championship's very first race in 1950. Seventy years later, Pirelli is still at the forefront. From 2011, the Italian firm has been Formula 1's Global Tyre Partner, with the agreement currently renewed up to the 2024. Formula 1 is an open air laboratory that allows Pirelli to gather experience and know-how that can then be incorporated directly into its road car products. A technology transfer that was underlined again last year with the adoption of 18-inch tyres in Formula 1, which are much more similar to road car products compared to the 13-inch covers that had been used in the sport since the 1960s.
