The Aston Martin F1 Safety Car from the 2021 Abu Dhabi finale is now for sale
07/04/2026
Some cars are valuable because they are rare. Others are valuable because of the stories they carry.
This Aston Martin Vantage F1 Safety Car belongs firmly in the second category. One of the official Formula 1 safety cars used between 2021 and 2023 has now been listed for sale at Aston Martin Leeds, with an asking price of £599,990. But this is not just any Vantage. According to the listing, this particular car was deployed during 20 Grands Prix, accumulating around 4,280 km of track time across Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and support series.
A safety car that witnessed F1 history
Behind the wheel of this car during those races was Bernd Mayländer, the man who has served as Formula 1’s safety car driver for more than two decades. The specific vehicle offered for sale carries chassis designation SC02 (VIN N00045) and played a role in multiple Grands Prix across the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.
But its most famous appearance came in December 2021. During the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the safety car was deployed after a crash involving Nicholas Latifi. What followed remains one of the most debated moments in Formula 1 history.
Race director Michael Masi made the controversial decision to allow only certain lapped cars to unlap themselves before restarting the race. That decision placed Max Verstappen directly behind Lewis Hamilton for the final lap.
With fresher tyres, Verstappen overtook Hamilton and secured his first Formula 1 world championship. The safety car at the centre of that moment? The very Aston Martin Vantage now being offered for sale.
The Aston Martin era in Formula 1 safety cars
Between 2021 and 2025, Aston Martin shared the role of supplying safety and medical cars to Formula One alongside Mercedes-AMG. The Vantage Safety Car was instantly recognisable thanks to its distinctive green livery and aggressive aerodynamic package.
Under the bonnet sits a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering well over 500 hp and approximately 685 Nm of torque, paired with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Over the years, the car received several upgrades to better match the pace required during race neutralisations, eventually reaching 656 hp in later iterations.
Still, as we discussed in our recent AutoNext article about the end of Aston Martin’s safety car role, the Vantage often found itself compared to the extremely fast Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series used by Mercedes.
A genuine collector’s item
What makes this car particularly special is that it is not merely inspired by Formula 1. It is a Formula 1 car. This Vantage was used in real race conditions, driven by Mayländer, and present at some of the most dramatic moments in modern motorsport.
The car has also been signed by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, adding another layer of authenticity for collectors. With only a handful of these vehicles ever built and even fewer entering private ownership, the Vantage Safety Car represents a rare opportunity to own a genuine piece of Formula 1 history.
AutoNext Take
We recently explored how Aston Martin will step away from its role as Formula 1 safety car supplier after 2025, leaving Mercedes once again as the sole provider from 2026 onward. Seen in that context, the appearance of this car on the market feels almost symbolic.
It represents the closing chapter of a short but memorable era in Formula 1, one where two legendary brands shared one of the most visible roles on the grid.
And regardless of which side of the 2021 Abu Dhabi debate you stand on, there is no denying that this particular Aston Martin Vantage played a role in a moment that will be discussed in Formula 1 history for decades.
