Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has sold his massive car collection to Mark Mateschitz, co-owner of Red Bull. The value of this collection, consisting of no less than sixty-nine iconic Formula 1 cars, was estimated at around 350 million euros in December. Fans of historic cars can rejoice; the Austrian multi-billionaire reportedly plans to publicly display the collection.
At the end of 2024, Bernie Ecclestone put his impressive car collection up for sale through British auctioneer Tom Hartley Jnr Ltd. The latter party considered the collection of racing cars as ‘the most important in the world’. We now know that Mark Mateschitz – son of the late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz – has bought up Ecclestone’s entire fleet after private negotiations. Mateschitz junior holds a minority stake in Red Bull. His wealth is estimated at nearly forty billion dollars.
The collection includes Ferraris from world champions Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Mike Hawthorn. In addition, the collection also includes Brabhams, driven by the likes of Nelson Piquet and Carlos Pace. The crown jewel is Michael Schumacher‘s Ferrari F2002, the car with which he won eleven of the seventeen Grands Prix in 2002. “These are unique vehicles,” Ecclestone told the Daily Mail. “They embody seventy years of Formula 1 history. It means a lot to me that they are now in the very best hands. Mark is the best owner we could ever imagine.”
‘Accessible to the Public’
“I am very pleased that Bernie has given me his trust to take care of these historic cars,” Mateschitz added. “The collection will be carefully preserved and expanded over the years. Moreover, the collection will be made accessible to the public at a suitable location in the near future.”
“I’ve been collecting these cars for over fifty years,” explained 94-year-old Bernie Ecclestone in December. “These are truly the best specimens. While many other collectors have chosen sports cars over the years, my passion has always remained with Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars. I love all my cars, but it’s time to let them go. After collecting them for so long, I want to know where they’re going. I don’t want to burden my wife with that when I’m no longer here.”
A selection from the enormous private collection of former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, now in the hands of Red Bull owner Mark Mateschitz (Tom Hartley Jnr)
