The Safety Car from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is now up for sale at a six-figure price. Collectors and Formula 1 fans are lining up for the Aston Martin that played a decisive role in crowning Max Verstappen world champion.
A genuine piece of recent Formula 1 history has just appeared on the international market. It is the Aston Martin Vantage that served as the official F1 Safety Car between 2021 and 2023. The car is listed for £599,990 and is already attracting strong interest from enthusiasts and investors seeking a tangible symbol of one of the most controversial chapters in modern Formula 1 history.
The 4.0-liter V8 coupé, driven in 34 Grands Prix by Bernd Mayländer, still carries the marks of competition and long neutralization periods. Over time, it has transformed from a high-performance road car into a cult object for passionate Formula 1 followers. Beyond its technical specifications and striking green livery, what truly elevates its value is its direct connection to a defining and deeply debated sporting moment.
Abu Dhabi 2021: when the Safety Car wrote Formula 1 history
This specific unit, identified by the SC02 designation, took part in more than twenty world championship events, covering over 4,280 kilometers across tests and race weekends. It led Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars during the most critical phases of race events, ensuring safety while maintaining competitive order on track.
However, its lasting fame is primarily linked to the dramatic and controversial finale of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Following the crash involving Nicolas Latifi, the deployment and subsequent management of the Safety Car triggered a sequence of decisions that reshaped the outcome of the championship. The late restart opened the door to Max Verstappen’s title-winning overtake, denying Lewis Hamilton what would have been a record-breaking eighth world championship.
The events that unfolded under the Yas Marina floodlights sparked immediate controversy, protests and intense debate within the paddock and among fans worldwide. Discussions about race control procedures, lapped cars and Safety Car protocols continued for months, making that season finale one of the most tense, divisive and unforgettable conclusions in Formula 1 history. This Aston Martin Vantage, therefore, is not just a performance machine; it is a witness to one of the sport’s most dramatic turning points.
Aston Martin to step down as official F1 Safety Car supplier
The sale of this historic car also comes at a symbolic moment. Aston Martin will no longer serve as an official Safety Car supplier after the end of the 2025 season. From this year onward, the exclusive supply role returns fully to Mercedes-Benz, closing a chapter in which the Vantage shared the spotlight with models from the German manufacturer.
During its tenure, the Aston Martin Safety Car operated in an era defined by increasingly fast and aerodynamically advanced Formula 1 cars, alongside ever-evolving safety protocols. Its presence on track represented both the technological progress of the championship and the FIA’s ongoing commitment to driver protection.
Now, with a price tag just shy of £600,000, this Abu Dhabi 2021 Safety Car stands as a rare collector’s item — a machine that combines motorsport engineering, historical significance and global controversy. For buyers, it is not merely about acquiring a powerful V8 coupé; it is about owning a piece of Formula 1 history that helped shape one of the most talked-about title deciders of the modern era.
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