ROAD TEST: 2022 Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition review

What is it?

The British brand’s celebration of its renewed Formula 1 assault. Now under the control of Canadian billionaire businessman, Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin is trying to win its maiden F1 title and improve its road car sales against the likes of on-track rivals Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG.

And what better way than a special edition with some clear F1 connections that takes an already exciting sports car and makes it even more special.

ROAD TEST: 2021 Aston Martin Vantage review

Does it have any racing pedigree?

On multiple levels. There’s obviously some pretty clear connections between the Vantage F1 Edition and the AMR22 that Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll drive on weekends, most noticeably the same shade of Aston Martin Racing Green.

It’s also pretty obvious that there aren’t a lot of mechanical similarities between the Vantage and the AMR22, but there is a close connection between this special edition and an F1 circuit regular – the Safety Car.

The Vantage splits time with a Mercedes-AMG GT R as the F1 Safety Car and Aston Martin has applied some of the lessons learnt ensuring the Vantage can keep a safe pace for the F1 field to make for a sportier road-going version.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Vantage F1 Edition is still powered by the same AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as the regular Vantage. However, it now makes 393kW of power, up from 385kW, but torque remains unchanged at 685Nm.

While that doesn’t make it the most powerful sports coupe on the market today (the AMG GT R makes 430kW using the same engine) it’s more than enough for this British machine to go as fast as it looks. However, if you’re the kind of person who worries about the numbers, the F1 Edition has the same claimed 0-100km/h time as the regular Vantage (3.6 seconds), so it may not be enough for you.

But, if you think a 3.6 second 100km/h sprint is quick and love the sound of a screaming, growling V8 engine, the F1 Edition might be right in your wheelhouse. It makes a glorious noise from its exhaust as you accelerate, even better than the V6 hybrid AMR22.

The engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, a conventional torque converter rather than a sharper-shifting dual-clutch. For the F1 Edition the gearbox software has been tweaked for crisper changes, without compromising on its relaxed shifts in automatic mode.

One thing that will take some getting used to with the gearbox is using Aston Martin’s unique button selector arrangement. There are individual buttons for each gear, rather than a shifter or rotary dial, so it takes time before it becomes second nature.

How does it handle?

You might think the new look aerodynamic kit, complete with an unmissable rear wing, is the biggest difference between the standard Vantage and the F1 Edition but the key changes are under the surface.

Aston Martin’s engineers focused on small but significant changes to try and make the Vantage F1 more lively and responsive. These changes include the front chassis being made stiffer than before, the adaptive dampers being reworked and firmer rear springs. There’s also new, bigger 21-inch rims wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber.

These changes don’t elevate the Vantage to a new level, but they do make it a sharper, more responsive and more engaging sports car to drive. In many respects it pushes the Vantage away from its ‘grand tourer’ reputation and more towards a thoroughbred sports car.

Where would you most like to drive it?

Leading the F1 field in the official Safety Car would be the dream test drive for this particular model – although that’s probably a tall order.

So, given Aston Martin’s F1 team is based next to it, the next place to experience the Vantage F1 Edition would seem to be the Silverstone circuit in England. The long-time home of the British Grand Prix is a great mix of long straights and fast, sweeping bends that would seem well-suited to this F1-inspired coupe.

What’s the interior like?

As we wrote in our review of the regular Vantage, the cabin is nice enough but could do with some extra flair and attention-to-detail to make it feel suitably prestige for a car in this price range.

Details like the push button gear selector, basic switchgear and borrowed Mercedes parts (such as the infotainment system) means the interior design doesn’t live up to the excellent exterior treatment from the Aston Martin designers.

For the F1 Edition there are some contrasting colour highlights and the option of carbon fibre trim, but it doesn’t feel radically different.

How much does the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition cost?

It’s priced from $325,876 (plus on-road costs), which is just over $26k more than the regular Vantage. If you prefer the wind in your hair, the F1 Edition is also available on the Vantage Roadster, which starts at $340,946.

Would I buy one?

The bodykit will probably be a big plus for some and a turn-off for others, but the F1 Edition is designed for those who want to celebrate speed and the British brand’s future in the sport.

It doesn’t radically alter the appeal of the Vantage, but it does sharper it in key places and that ultimately makes it worth the extra spend in this reviewer’s opinion.

Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than buying an AMR22.

2022 Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition price and specifications