Bernie Ecclestone sells his collection of 69 F1 cars to Mateschitz Jr.. The value of the cars approaches 600 million euros; the figures of the deal remain confidential..

Change of ownership
Bernie Ecclestone was for years the undisputed leader of Formula 1, guiding the sport from its pioneering and “artisanal” era to global success. Over the years, Mr. E, now 94, has collected some of the most iconic single-seaters in the sport’s history, building a truly special garage that houses 69 Formula 1 cars spanning a 70-year period. It is an enormously valuable collection, a dream for any enthusiast, and it has now changed hands. Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that he has completed a deal to sell the entire collection to Mark Mateschitz, son of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

“These are unique vehicles. They have written the history of the sport and marked technical milestones. They embody 70 years of F1 history,” Ecclestone said, commenting on the sale. “It means a lot to me to know that this collection is now in the best hands. Mark is the best and most worthy owner we could have ever imagined.” Ecclestone is very close to the Mateschitz family and was a great friend of Dietrich, who passed away on October 22, 2022, at the age of 78. The details of the deal have not been disclosed, but the estimated total value of the cars is around 500 million pounds, just under 600 million euros.

An invaluable collection
“I am very happy that Bernie has placed his trust in me to take care of this historically significant collection,” said Mateschitz’s heir. “It will be carefully preserved, expanded over the years, and in the near future, it will be made accessible to the public in an appropriate location.”

Bernie Ecclestone’s decision to sell his collection is understandably tied to his age and his wish not to leave the burden of managing such a unique treasure to his 48-year-old wife, Fabiana. In an interview with the *Daily Mail*, Ecclestone stated: “I am 94 years old, and with a bit of luck, I could live a few more years. Who knows? But I didn’t want to leave Fabi wondering what to do with it if I wasn’t around. I love all my cars, but maybe I should have done this five years ago. I just never managed to do it until now.”

Among the newly transferred cars are the Ferrari driven by Britain’s first world champion, Mike Hawthorn, in 1958; the Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda; the Vanwall VW10 of Sir Stirling Moss, with which the legendary British driver secured the team’s first Constructors’ title 66 years ago, and many more.