Aston Martin’s New Vantage S Takes Over as Formula 1 Safety Car

Billed as the most powerful Vantage ever, the S version is armed with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 680 horsepower, good for 0–100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds—more than enough to keep a pack of 20 Formula 1 cars in check when required. To meet its duties, the car comes fitted with aerodynamic add-ons, a rear spoiler, and the requisite light bar. Safety car driver Bernd Mayländer has already praised the new tool of the trade as “another step forward,” echoing the familiar language used for every new safety car introduction.

For Aston Martin, the appointment is as much about visibility as it is about performance. As the brand’s marketing chief put it, “nothing beats the impact of Formula 1”—in other words, no advertising campaign delivers as many free camera seconds as a safety car every time it takes to the track.

The Vantage S will be joined by a familiar companion: the DBX707 SUV continues its role as the official medical car. Together they give Aston Martin a dual presence in F1, reinforcing the company’s bid to cement its image as a builder of aggressive, sporting luxury cars.

Whether the Vantage S will go down as one of the legendary safety cars is debatable. More likely, it will be remembered as another example of how sport and marketing intersect on Formula 1’s starting grid.