Sold at auction, Bernie Ecclestone’s splendid iconic Formula 1 collection comes under the Red Bull umbrella
Bernie Ecclestone, an iconic figure in Formula 1, has announced the sale of his private collection of historic F1 cars to Mark Mateschitz, son of the late founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz.
The nonagenarian businessman justified his choice to sell his cars due to his advanced age and his desire to spare his partner, Fabiana Flosi, the burden of managing the sale once he is no longer around. “These are unique vehicles. They have written the history of the sport and marked technical milestones,” said Ecclestone. “They embody 70 years of F1 history.”
The collection, whose value has not been disclosed, has been estimated by British media at around 500 million pounds sterling (595 million euros). This array of single-seaters includes cars from different eras, spectacular triumphs in Formula 1, and single-seaters driven by world champions such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, and Ayrton Senna, each telling a powerful story.
Ecclestone expressed his satisfaction regarding the new owner of his collection, highlighting the faith he has in Mark Mateschitz to maintain and grow it. « It means a lot to me to know that this collection is now in good hands. Mark is the best and most worthy owner we could have imagined », he stated.
Mark Mateschitz, heir to the Red Bull empire, expressed his gratitude to Ecclestone for the trust placed in him and committed to honoring the legacy of this exceptional collection. “I am very happy that Bernie trusted me to take care of this historically significant collection,” Mateschitz said.
© Tom Hartley jnr
Certainly, Mateschitz’s announcement about the future of the collection is the most thrilling news for motorsport enthusiasts. He confirmed that the cars would be carefully preserved and potentially expanded over time. He especially assured that the collection would be made available to the public in the near future, at a location yet to be determined.
This promise of a public exhibition is excellent news for Formula 1 fans around the world, who will have the opportunity to closely admire these legendary cars. The exact location and opening date of the exhibition are still unknown, but there is already speculation on whether it will be held in Austria, Red Bull’s stronghold, or at an important motorsport venue.
The sale of Ecclestone’s collection represents a new chapter for these mythical cars, which are sure to amaze all generations. We eagerly await the announcement of the opening of the exhibition promised by Mark Mateschitz, who will undoubtedly provide us with a memorable experience.
