Controversial 2021 F1 Safety Car Hits the Market

A piece of Formula 1 history, the Aston Martin Vantage safety car used in the dramatic and controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is now for sale for nearly £600,000. The car, driven by Bernd Mayländer, is one of three being sold by Aston Martin and has been signed by drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, linking it to one of the sport's most pivotal modern moments.

Why it matters:

This vehicle is not just a high-performance car; it is a tangible artifact from a race that permanently altered the championship landscape and sparked enduring debates about race control decisions. Its sale represents a rare opportunity to own a central piece of equipment from a defining season, directly connected to the climax that handed Max Verstappen his first world title over Lewis Hamilton.

The details:

• The car, identified as SC02 (VIN N00045), served as the official F1 safety car for 34 races between 2021 and 2023, covering 4,280 km across F1, F2, and F3 sessions.
• It is listed for sale on Auto Trader for £599,990 and is one of three safety cars being sold directly by the Aston Martin F1 team.
• The vehicle's most famous deployment was at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, where a late safety car period and the subsequent decision by then-race director Michael Masi to allow only some lapped cars to unlap themselves set the stage for Verstappen's last-lap overtake for the championship.
• The car has been signed by Aston Martin F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, adding collectible value.
• Aston Martin's contract to supply F1's safety and medical cars concluded after the 2025 season.

What's next:

With the Aston Martin era over, the familiar sight of Mercedes-AMG vehicles will return to their long-held role. Mercedes-AMG confirmed it will resume supplying the Official FIA F1 Safety and Medical Cars from the 2026 season onward, using the GT Black Series and GT 63 S models respectively, continuing a partnership that began in 1996.