The new Aston Martin Vantage S assumes FIA Safety Car duties in F1

The new Aston Martin Vantage S becomes the Official FIA Safety Car of F1.

The latest addition to Aston Martin's legendary bloodline of high-performance 'S' models is the most performance-focused Vantage ever created and will make its F1 debut at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend.

With its hand-built 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 680PS and 800Nm of torque, this specially-equipped Vantage S delivers blistering pace – 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202mph – ensuring it is more than capable of leading the world's fastest racing cars under Safety Car conditions.

Additional aerodynamic upgrades, including a new rear deck spoiler and the regular additions such as the FIA lightbar have been engineered for optimum stability and visibility during deployment.

"Vantage S represents the peak of performance for the model that is the beating heart of the Aston Martin brand," says Aston Martin Global Marketing Director Alex Long.

"With increased power and even greater dynamic prowess, this car was destined to take on the prestigious role as an F1 Safety Car and it will be a source of great pride for our colleagues and our customers to see it leading the pack whenever it is called upon.

"In terms of brand awareness, nothing can compete with F1 and we are proud to play our part in what we believe is the greatest show on earth."

The Aston Martin Vantage S embodies the brand's passion for driving intensity. Visually, F1 fans will see new centrally-mounted bonnet blades to optimise the extraction of hot air from the 'hot-V' configured V8 engine, and a full width decklid spoiler, which increases rear downforce and helps to keep the overall balance of downforce biased to the front. This gives Official Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer exceptional turn-in response and a high level of cornering grip, essential when being followed by arguably the world's best racing drivers and machines.

"The introduction of the Vantage S as the Official FIA Safety Car of F1 represents yet another clear step forward in the Vantage's performance capability, exhibiting capabilities that further allow me to effectively respond quickly and safely when we receive the call for on-track deployment," says Bernd Mayländer.

"I'm delighted to be one of the very first to drive the Vantage S and look forward to experiencing the world's greatest circuits in the most performance-focused Vantage to date."

The Aston Martin Vantage S – painted in the same green as the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team cars – is set to become a thrilling new addition to F1, alongside the Aston Martin DBX707, which continues as an Official FIA Medical of F1.

Safety has never looked – or sounded – so exhilarating.

Discover Vantage S, here.