British business magnate Bernie Ecclestone is parting with his remarkable collection of Formula One cars, valued at over £300 million, marking a historic sale by the sport’s former leader.
Bernie Ecclestone, now 94, steered F1 for four decades and curated a lineup of 69 iconic cars that represent seven decades of Grand Prix history. Regarded as the most extraordinary collection of racing machines ever assembled, it offers a window into the evolution of the sport.
At the forefront of the collection is the Ferrari that carried Michael Schumacher to his third of five consecutive world championships with the team, an emblem of dominance during a golden era for the Scuderia.
The sale also includes the legendary 1958 Vanwall driven by British racing hero Stirling Moss, alongside compatriot Mike Hawthorn’s championship-winning Ferrari from the same year, providing collectors with rare pieces of motorsport history.
Additional highlights feature cars driven by some of the sport’s greatest champions, including Ayrton Senna, Alberto Ascari, Niki Lauda, and Nelson Piquet, showcasing the legacy of multiple eras. The sale is being managed by Tom Hartley Jnr, a renowned dealer in exclusive high-performance vehicles.
Discussing his decision to relinquish the collection, Bernie Ecclestone, who is married to Fabiana, 48, reflected on the remarkable journey that led to this moment: “I love all of my cars but the time has come for me to start thinking about what will happen to them should I no longer be here, and that is why I have decided to sell them. After collecting and owning them for so long, I would like to know where they have gone and not leave them for my wife to deal with should I not be around.” – he pointed out.
Bernie Ecclestone, who was ousted from his position as F1’s leader by the sport’s American owners, Liberty Media, in 2017, further explained: “I have been collecting these cars for more than 50 years, and I have only ever bought the best of any example. Whilst many other collectors over the years have opted for sports cars, my passion has always been for Grand Prix and Formula One cars. A Grand Prix and in particular a Formula One car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art. Having collected what are the best and most original Formula One cars dating back to the start of the sport, I have now decided to move them on to new homes that will treat them as I have and look after them as precious works of art.” – the former F1 Supremo concluded.
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