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Aston Martin Vantage confirmed as official 2021 Formula One safety car

An Aston Martin Vantage will serve as the official Formula One safety car for the first time this year, following 25 years of Mercedes-AMG exclusivity.


The heavily-modified sports car – which will be driven by the FIA’s Bernd Mayländer – reportedly puts out 393kW from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, up 18kW over the road-going variant's 375kW. Torque peaks at 685Nm, allowing for a 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 3.5 seconds.

According to the manufacturer, suspension, steering and damper upgrades also significantly improve handling, as does a bespoke front splitter – this creates 155.6kg of downforce at 200km/h, up from 95kg on the road-going variant.

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Meanwhile, an Aston Martin DBX (shown above) has been confirmed as the official medical car for the 2021 season.

Powered by a retuned variant of the same engine, this car puts out 404kW and 700Nm. This allows the sports SUV to sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 291km/h.

Last week Aston Martin took the covers off its own Formula One car, after taking over the Racing Point (formerly Force India) team last year through key Aston Martin shareholder Lawrence Stroll. The manufacturer has not competed in the top tier of open-wheel racing since 1960.

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Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, Tobias Moers, said: "Together with the whole company, I am extremely proud of the Aston Martin brand’s return to Formula One, the pinnacle of motorsport for the first time in more than 60 years. [This] represents the start of a significant new era for Aston Martin.”

Last year Mercedes-Benz increased its stake in Aston Martin to 20 per cent, following the British brand’s significant financial struggles – this move likely opened the door to the safety car position, with Mercedes-Benz looking for ways to promote its investment.

The 2021 Formula One season will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 29. Meanwhile, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne – traditionally the opening race – has been pushed back until November.

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William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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