The legendary Bernie Ecclestone, widely known as the former chief executive and driving force behind modern Formula 1, once made a little-known attempt to qualify as a Formula 1 driver himself. This unusual episode occurred at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix, revealing a rare glimpse into the early life of a man who would later dominate the world of motorsport.
According to the biography of Bernie Ecclestone written by Susan Watkins, third wife of Sid Watkins, the historic Formula 1 doctor, the story goes as follows: “Frustrated with the performance of the Connaught cars, Bernie Ecclestone decided to attempt to qualify one of the vehicles for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 18, 1958. He initially intended to have Paul Emery drive, but at the last minute he changed his mind, saying, ‘Step aside, I’ll try.’ Despite this bold decision, the car did not manage to qualify. That night, Bernie suffered a heavy loss at the roulette table in the Monte Carlo Casino, losing the funds he had set aside to support the racing cars.”
At just 27 years old, Bernie Ecclestone failed to make the list of the 16 qualified drivers. His lap time has long been shrouded in mystery. Some accounts claimed he was one minute slower than the pole position, while others placed his time between 4 minutes 30 seconds and 5 minutes. Over the years, Ecclestone rarely discussed this episode, usually shrugging it off with a half-hearted remark that “it wasn’t a serious attempt.”
But what truly happened that day?
In a surprising revelation during an early August interview with F1 Destination, Bernie Ecclestone finally shared details of that Saturday, 67 years earlier: “I was actually sitting in the driver’s seat of that car, but I asked Stuart Lewis-Evans, whom I managed at the time, to do a few fast laps in my car… But Louis Chiron, who was the race director, noticed what was happening and came over to me. He banged the flag on my helmet and told me I shouldn’t be doing that. In the end, we all had a laugh about it.” This confession explains what had been hinted at for decades: a genuine, though cheeky, attempt at bending the rules.
Later that year, Bernie Ecclestone registered for the 1958 Silverstone race as a reserve driver for Jack Fairman, but he never actually drove. The tragic death of Stuart Lewis-Evans later that season led him to retire from driving altogether. This marked the beginning of a far more influential career, first as the manager of Jochen Rindt, then as owner of the Brabham racing team, and ultimately as the mastermind behind Formula 1’s transformation until 2017.
This story highlights a fascinating footnote in the life of Bernie Ecclestone, revealing a time when he was not yet the powerful figure of Formula 1, but rather an ambitious young man willing to take risks—even attempting a clever trick in Monaco. It also reflects the unpredictable and sometimes reckless world of motorsport in the 1950s, where a combination of talent, daring, and sheer audacity could leave a lasting mark on history.
Leave a Reply