AN ex-Formula One ace was left red-faced after smashing his luxury sports car on a motorway.

The crushed black Aston Martin V12 Vantage had to be moved by police after the driver veered off the road clipped and the central reservation of the M20 motorway.

2 The Aston Martin V12 Vantage was pictured smashed up at the side of the motorway. Police confirmed the driver was a former F1 ace Credit: SWNS - London

2 The car is valued at around £140,000 Credit: Aston Martin

Cops confirmed rumours it was a former racing driver but refused to reveal their identity.

Kent Police confirmed they were called to one-car smash between junctions 4 and 5, near Maidstone at 9.26am on Friday.

The high-performance car, which can reach speeds of up to 205mph, is thought to have hit a patch of standing water whilst travelling towards the South East coast.

Do you know who the hapless ex-F1 ace who crashed his posh Aston Martin was? Let us know on james.cox@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077 824 512.

It was pictured with the front end smashed in and foliage in the grill after slamming into a barrier.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "It was reported that a vehicle had made contact with the central reservation and was obstructing a live lane.

"To ensure public safety, lane three of the carriageway was closed.

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No one was injured in the crash, which had been moved on to the hard shoulder in under 20 minutes by cops.

The former F1 ace is yet to own up to the crash.

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