Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has waved goodbye to his jaw-dropping collection of 69 Formula 1 cars, handing them all over to Red Bull billionaire Mark Mateschitz for a cool – yet undisclosed – sum.
Valued at a whopping £500 million ($646 million), this treasure trove of racing history, dubbed the "biggest transaction of its kind”, was entrusted by Ecclestone to renowned UK high end and performance car specialist Tom Hartley Jnr.
While the latter anticipated a flurry of individual bids, Mateschitz decisively intervened and tabled an offer that Ecclestone couldn’t refuse.
At 94, Ecclestone isn’t just shedding the most outstanding selection of Grand Prix cars ever assembled; he’s sparing his wife Fabiana, 48, from a post-Bernie car conundrum.
“I didn’t want to leave Fabi wondering what to do with them if I was no longer around,” he confessed last year.
Enter Mateschitz, 32, Red Bull royalty and son of Bernie’s late pal Dietrich. With a 49% stake in the energy drink empire and 14 F1 titles under its belt, Mark’s practically got motor oil in his veins—making him the “most worthy” heir to this high-octane hoard.
A Collection That Revs Through Time
This obviously isn’t your average car lot. We’re talking 70 years of F1 glory. Dazzling highlights include the Vanwall VW10 raced by Sir Stirling Moss during the inaugural constructors’ championship year, Alberto Ascari's 1951 Italian Grand Prix-winning Ferrari 375, Mike Hawthorn's 1958 championship-winning Dino, and an ex-Michael Schumacher F2002.
©TomHartleyJr
The collection also features rarities such as the innovative Brabham BT46 ‘fan car’ that Niki Lauda drove to victory at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix, a car that disappeared from public view for decades before its appearance at the 2001 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“These are unique vehicles,” Ecclestone told the Daily Mail. “They have written sport history and marked technical milestones. They embody 70 years of F1 history.
“It means a great deal to me to know that this collection is now in the very best of hands. Mark is the best and most worthy owner we could ever imagine.”
The End of an Era, With a Wink
For Ecclestone, who ruled F1 for over 40 years before Liberty Media’s £6.4 billion American takeover in 2017, this sale closes a chapter.
“I love all my cars, but maybe I should have done this five years ago,” he mused. Better late than never, right?
As Mateschitz revs up to preserve Bernie’s legacy, one can’t help but picture Fabiana breathing a sigh of relief—no longer doomed to haggle over a Brabham on eBay.
"I am very pleased that Bernie has placed his trust in me to take care of this historically significant collection," commented the 32-year-old Mateschitz.
"It will be carefully preserved, expanded over the years, and in the near future it will be made accessible to the public at an appropriate location."
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