Bernie Ecclestone Sells His £500 Million F1 Car Collection

At 94 years old, former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has completed one of the most remarkable transactions in motorsport history — the sale of his legendary 69-car Grand Prix collection, valued at around £500 million, to Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz.

Credit: Car and Driver

A Life in Formula 1

For decades, Bernie Ecclestone was the undisputed architect of modern Formula 1. As chief executive of the sport from the late 1970s until 2017, he transformed F1 into a global phenomenon. Alongside his role as the commercial mastermind of the paddock, Ecclestone was quietly building something very personal: an extraordinary private collection of racing cars spanning the most iconic eras of the sport.

The Sale of a Lifetime

Now, at an age when most enthusiasts have long parted with their toys, Ecclestone has passed on his collection in a deal that has already been called the largest single sale of racing cars ever completed. The buyer, Mark Mateschitz, son of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, reportedly paid around £500 million for the lot — securing not just a fleet of cars, but a rolling museum of Formula 1’s greatest moments.

Ecclestone has said he is relieved that the collection is going to a “good home.” Rather than risk the cars being broken up and sold off piecemeal, the deal ensures that they remain together and, crucially, that they will be made accessible to the public in the future.

Credit: Turbo (fr)

Star Cars of the Collection

The 69-car lineup reads like a greatest hits album of Formula 1:

Brabham BT46B “Fan Car” — A ground-breaking design banned after a single race in 1978, instantly one of the most famous F1 machines of all time.

Ferrari 312T2 driven by Niki Lauda — The car in which the Austrian legend fought his way back to the top after his near-fatal Nürburgring crash.

Ferrari F2002 campaigned by Michael Schumacher — One of the most dominant cars in history, a machine that cemented Schumacher’s place as the greatest driver of his era.

Mike Hawthorn’s Ferrari Dino 246 — Driven by Britain’s first Formula 1 World Champion in the late 1950s.

Alberto Ascari’s Ferrari 375 F1 — A jewel of early F1 history, representing the very roots of the championship.

A host of McLarens, Williams, and Lotus cars that carried champions like Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, and Nigel Mansell.

Each car represents a pivotal chapter in the sport’s story, from the dangerous glamour of the 1950s to the high-tech dominance of the 2000s.

Why Mateschitz?

The new custodian of the collection, Mark Mateschitz, is no stranger to Formula 1 heritage. Red Bull Racing has been the dominant team of the modern era, delivering multiple World Championships with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. For Mateschitz, the purchase is not just about owning priceless cars — it is about preserving the legacy of the sport his family business has helped shape in the 21st century.

Reports suggest that the collection will form the basis of a dedicated museum, where fans will be able to see the cars up close in a setting that reflects their importance.

Credit: Car and Driver

A Record-Breaking Benchmark

While individual F1 cars have fetched millions at auction — Schumacher’s Ferrari F2001 sold for $7.5 million in 2017, for example — never before has such a comprehensive collection changed hands in one transaction. The £500 million price tag sets a new benchmark for motorsport assets and underscores just how valuable F1 heritage has become.

Preserving the Story of Formula 1

For Ecclestone, the sale is the end of a personal chapter but also the beginning of something greater. His cars were never just trophies; they were the physical embodiment of Formula 1’s journey from niche post-war sport to global spectacle. By selling them in one lot, he has ensured that history remains intact.

Once-in-a-Generation Moment

For fans, collectors, and historians, the Ecclestone sale represents a once-in-a-generation moment. Rarely does such a complete story of Formula 1’s evolution come together under one roof — and even more rarely is it guaranteed to be preserved for the public.

When the museum doors eventually open, visitors won’t just be looking at a collection of cars. They’ll be walking through the very history of Formula 1, told in steel, carbon fibre, and the echoes of roaring engines.

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