Bernie Ecclestone has bought his whole assortment of historic grand prix and Method One automobiles – – to the billionaire son of Pink Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
Austrian Mark Mateschitz, 32, who inherited 49 per cent of the world’s largest vitality drink producer following his father’s loss of life in October 2022, stated he would make the gathering accessible to the general public “within the close to future”.
It has not been disclosed how a lot Mateschitz paid for the fleet, which incorporates Ferraris raced by world champions resembling Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, and Michael Schumacher, Brabhams raced by Nelson Piquet, Carlos Tempo and Lauda, in addition to the one-off Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B “fan automobile”, which raced solely as soon as, profitable the Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp in 1978.
Tom Hartley Jnr, who dealt with the sale, informed Telegraph Sport on Thursday that it was “by a number of multiples the most important sale value ever achieved for a basic automobile assortment”.
Mark Mateschitz inherited 49 per cent of Pink Bull after the loss of life of his father Dietrich – Getty Photos/Manfred Noger
Ecclestone, 94, introduced late final yr that he was placing the gathering, which he has acquired over the course of fifty years, up on the market. His resolution to promote got here after he , having did not declare a belief that held property value greater than £416 million.
Prosecutors informed Southwark Crown Courtroom that he would pay a , whereas he was given a suspended jail sentence of 17 months. However in a current interview with Telegraph Sport, Ecclestone insisted this performed no half in his willingness to unload the household silver.
“It’s very simple,” stated the previous F1 supremo, who now lives in Gstaad, Switzerland with spouse Fabiana, 48, and four-year-old son Ace. “Confidently I would get two or three extra years. And I don’t wish to depart all this for Fabiana to type. All these automobile sellers could be driving her mad. So one of the best factor to do is to get all of the automobiles collectively and check out to ensure they go to correct properties. Ace won’t be concerned about dealing with all this both. He is likely to be extra into soccer. In the end, this needed to occur. I’m nonetheless kind of in management, so I can do what I like. Possibly in one other yr I gained’t be capable of.”
Hartley Jnr stated there had been curiosity from everywhere in the world, together with from two sovereign wealth funds. Ecclestone indicated to Telegraph Sport in the identical interview that one of many nation states was Saudi Arabia.
“After we put the automobiles up on the market earlier than Christmas I don’t suppose we may have anticipated how a lot curiosity there could be,” Hartley Jnr stated. “It’s been totally unbelievable. We obtained provides from everywhere in the world, together with from two separate sovereign wealth funds. However I do really feel the gathering has gone to one of the best residence, and to the client which Bernie most favoured.”
He added: “The customer moved extraordinarily rapidly. We spoke with him earlier than Christmas, he flew over, we confirmed him the automobiles and he was very, very excited. He was positively a favoured purchaser of Bernie’s.
“There has by no means been a transaction within the collectors’ automobile world that even comes near this. By a number of multiples it’s the largest sale value ever achieved.
“Being concerned within the sale was an actual privilege. Though it got here collectively rapidly ultimately, the method took years – researching each chassis, the race historical past of every automobile, going over to Ferrari and digging into their archives and so forth.
“Bernie deserves nice credit score and gratitude, for not happening the normal public sale route. Whenever you put a automobile up for public sale it’s open to so many parts. The inventory market may crash the day earlier than, the market may very well be unstable. Bernie gave us a mandate to promote, however didn’t impose a time restrict. I feel we achieved one of the best outcome we may.”
Ecclestone he was delighted that the gathering could be going to the one son of an in depth private pal. “It means an amazing deal to me to know that this assortment is now in the perfect of fingers,” Ecclestone stated. “Mark is one of the best and most worthy proprietor we may ever think about.”
Mateschitz, who succeeded his father on his loss of life in October 2022, added: “I’m more than happy that Bernie has positioned his belief in me to deal with this traditionally vital assortment.
“It will likely be rigorously preserved, expanded over time, and within the close to future it is going to be made accessible to the general public at an applicable location.”
Requested the place he thought the gathering could be exhibited, Hartley Jnr added: “I think about it’s going to in all probability be in Austria.”
Six of essentially the most vital automobiles from the Ecclestone collection1949 Ferrari Skinny Wall Particular
1949 Ferrari Skinny Wall Particular
Raced by Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi, this well-known Ferrari performed an integral function in creating Tony Vandervell’s personal Method One group, Vanwall. It grew to become the primary Ferrari to beat an Alfa Romeo when Reg Parnell drove the 1952 spec to victory at Silverstone.
1975 Ferrari 312 T
1975 Ferrari 312 T
Most profitable F1 Grand Prix automobiles change into synonymous with the good drivers who drove them. The 1975 Ferrari 312 T powered Niki Lauda to the world championship with 5 wins that yr to change into the primary Ferrari to win a title since 1964.
1983 Brabham BT52B
1983 Brabham BT52B
The chassis which allowed Nelson Piquet to clinch his second F1 title after snatching the championship within the ultimate race after Alain Prost’s retirement. This Brabham is only one of two ever made and additionally it is the automobile which Aryton Senna examined for Brabham at Circuit Paul Ricard.
1957 Ferrari Dino 246 F1
1957 Ferrari Dino 246 F1
A a number of grand prix winner, Mike Hawthorn gained the 1958 title within the ‘Dino’ regardless of profitable just one race that season. Hawthorn, tragically, was killed in an accident on the A3 Guildford bypass solely three months later, following his retirement. It was the primary F1 automobile to make use of a V6 engine and the final entrance engine automobile to win a race.
1949 Maserati 4CLT/48
1949 Maserati 4CLT/48
Louis Chiron raced this Maserati within the first-ever F1 world championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and went on to attain a podium in Monaco the identical yr. It’s considered one of solely 19 ever constructed.
1978 Brabham BT46B ‘Fan Automobile’
1978 Brabham BT46B ‘Fan Automobile’
Simply Brabham’s most memorable and well-known automobile with Lauda’s half-minute victory on the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix the one time it was entered right into a Grand Prix. The ‘fan’ design by Gordon Murray would have revolutionised F1 had Ecclestone chosen to not withdraw it.
