Bernie Ecclestone sells massive F1 car collection to Red Bull heir

Dominika Jordan
Mar 7, 2025, 05:10 AM ET

Bernie Ecclestone sells historic F1 car collection to Mark Mateschitz for public display.

In a notable transaction, Bernie Ecclestone has sold his extensive collection of Formula 1 cars to Mark Mateschitz, the heir to the Red Bull fortune, for an undisclosed sum. The former Formula 1 chief disclosed on Friday that the deal will allow the iconic vehicles to be showcased to the public, marking a significant shift from their previous limited exposure.

Mateschitz, 32, is the son of the late Dietrich Mateschitz, the Austrian billionaire and Red Bull co-founder, who was a team owner and close friend of Ecclestone. The sale includes 69 cars, dating back to the inception of the Formula 1 championship in 1950. The collection features cars piloted by legendary champions such as Alberto Ascari, Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, and Michael Schumacher.

British media outlets have estimated the value of the collection at approximately £500 million ($646 million).

"They've gone to a good home, which is the real thing I was interested in making sure," Ecclestone, 94, told Reuters from Switzerland. "They'll present them somewhere, in a museum, so people can have a look at them for a change, which has never happened before. It's good. I'm more than happy that's where they've gone. I wouldn't have sold them to anyone unless I knew where they were going to finish up. They're going to build something like a museum and that's where they'll be."

Ecclestone noted that there had been widespread interest in the collection, but mainly from "the wrong people."

The Daily Mail newspaper quoted Mateschitz as saying the collection would be "carefully preserved, expanded over the years, and in the near future, it will be made accessible to the public at an appropriate location."

Previously stored securely at Biggin Hill airfield in southern England, the collection was rarely seen by the public, only making occasional appearances at races.

Among the highlights of the collection is the controversial Brabham BT46B "fan car," famed for its innovative downforce-generating fan at the back, which Lauda drove to victory in Sweden in 1978 before it was withdrawn. Additionally, the collection boasts several iconic Ferraris, including the 375F1 that Ascari drove to victory in the 1951 Italian Grand Prix, Hawthorn's championship-winning 1958 car, and Schumacher's 2002 car.

"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," Ecclestone explained when the impending sale was initially announced in December.

This monumental sale ensures that these historic vehicles will be preserved and appreciated by the public, offering a rare glimpse into the rich history of Formula 1 racing.