Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has bought his enormous automobile assortment to Crimson Bull inheritor Mark Mateschitz.
The gathering of 69 vehicles – that includes winners raced by champions Michael Schumacher, Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, Mike Hawthorn and Alberto Ascari – is valued to be price an estimated £500 million.
Ecclestone has bought his personal automobile assortment to Crimson Bull billionaire Mateschitz, the son of the late founding father of the vitality drinks empire, Dietrich, who died aged 78 in 2022.
Mateschitz, 32, is a household good friend of the Ecclestones. He’s described as being the “finest and most worthy proprietor” by 94-year-old ex-F1 boss Ecclestone.
“These are distinctive autos. They’ve written sport historical past and marked technical milestones. They embody 70 years of F1 historical past,” Ecclestone advised The Each day Mail.
“I’m 94 and with luck I may need a number of years longer. Who is aware of? However I didn’t need to depart Fabi [Ecclestone’s wife] questioning what to do with them if I used to be now not round.
“I like all my vehicles however possibly I ought to have carried out this 5 years in the past, however I by no means acquired round to it till now.”
Mateschitz paid an undisclosed sum to seal the deal that can see the gathering placed on public show sooner or later.
“I’m more than happy that Bernie has positioned his belief in me to handle this traditionally vital assortment,” Mateschitz mentioned.
“It is going to be rigorously preserved, expanded through the years, and within the close to future it is going to be made accessible to the general public at an acceptable location.”
