Brazilian police free Ecclestone's kidnapped mother-in-law

Aparecida Schunck, the 67-year-old mother of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone's wife, Fabiana Flosi, has been freed after being abducted from her Sao Paulo house last month, according to several reports.

The criminals who kidnapped Ms Schunck were asking for a payment of 120 million reais (which is approximately £28 million), an amount that was believed to be the highest ever in the country's history.

Globo News reported that Ecclestone’s mother-in-law was found uninjured at a farmhouse near Sao Paolo on Sunday night after a police operation described as "major" by Elisabete Sato of the Sao Paulo Police.

Sato told the BBC that no ransom was paid while two suspects were arrested after their phone calls had been tracked.

Fabiana Flosi is Ecclestone's third wife, the couple met at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix where Fabiana worked and have been married since 2012.

The F1 boss’s worth is estimated at $3.1 billion by Forbes magazine. Ecclestone initially wanted to travel to Brazil upon hearing of the kidnapping but the 85-year-old was advised that it might be counterproductive.

REPORT: Hamilton beats Red Bulls to extend championship lead

AS IT HAPPENED: German Grand Prix

Silbermann says ... Backing the wrong horse

Exclusive Alex Wurz Q&A: GPDA chairman "surprised" by Halo delay

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Through one lens: Twelve photographs from the 2025 F1 season

  Lewis Hamilton: Australian GP – Albert Park Lewis Hamilton’s very first Grand Prix weekend…

8 hours ago

Two Formula 1 racers born on Christmas day

One driver has a hugely famous name, the other is a special Grand Prix winner,…

10 hours ago

Red with purpose – It’s time for Ferrari to bring it home

As the Ferrari factory in Maranello glows in festive crimson, a sense of anticipation hums…

1 day ago

Norris reveals the quirky private moment his F1 title finally sunk in

Lando Norris had just done the hardest thing in motorsport – winning the Formula 1…

1 day ago

Howden Ganley, McLaren's third-ever employee

A veteran of 41 Grands Prix starts, Howden Ganley - seen here above hitting a…

1 day ago

Leclerc’s ‘naughty’ Christmas gift leaves Russell ‘lost for words’

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc may not have ended the season with a silver trophy in hand,…

1 day ago