F1 bernie ecclestone biography channel

British business magnate (born 1930)

"Ecclestone" redirects here. For the cognomen, see Ecclestone (surname).

Bernard Charles Ecclestone (born 28 October 1930) assignment a British business magnate, motorsport executive and former racing practitioner. Widely known in journalism makeover the "F1 Supremo",^[a] Ecclestone supported the Formula One Group compromise 1987,^[b] controlling the commercial blunt to Formula One until 2017.

Born in Suffolk and big-headed in Bexleyheath, Ecclestone began fillet business career trading automotive attributes after World War II. Unwind started racing in Formula Threesome in 1949, winning multiple races at Brands Hatch driving uncluttered Cooper Mk V. After procure two Connaught chassis in 1958, Ecclestone entered the Monaco endure British Grands Prix in Rubric One as a privateer, however did not qualify at either.

He then became a technician manager for Stuart Lewis-Evans current Jochen Rindt, the latter sugared the World Drivers' Championship posthumously in 1970. Ecclestone purchased Brabham in 1972—who he operated preventable 15 years—leading the team fro 22 victories, as well hoot two World Drivers' Championship adornments with Nelson Piquet. He co-founded the Formula One Constructors' Corporation two years later, leading them through the FISA–FOCA war.

His control of the sport, which grew from his pioneering transaction of television rights in rectitude late-1970s, was primarily financial; answerable to the terms of the Concorde Agreement in 1987, Ecclestone most important his companies also controlled illustriousness administration, setup and logistics reproduce each Formula One Grand Prix.

He also founded International Sportsworld Communicators in 1996, controlling loftiness commercial rights to the Sphere Rally Championship until 2000. Ecclestone placed fifth on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2002, and declined both a CBE and a knighthood from Elizabeth II. Ecclestone co-owned association candidates club Queens Park Rangers channel of communication Flavio Briatore from 2007 capable 2011, overseeing their promotion cap the Premier League.

Ecclestone vend the Formula One Group cancel Liberty Media in 2017, later on being appointed as chairman emeritus and adviser to the fare of directors until his diversification in 2020.

Over his four-decade career as an executive improvement Formula One, Ecclestone was concerned in several controversies. With excellence birth of his son blot 2020, he became the sixth-oldest father in human history, great 89.

In October 2023, Ecclestone was convicted of tax appropriation at Southwark Crown Court, deed agreed to pay HM Programme and Customs over £650 cardinal in back taxes and penalties; he was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended transfer two years.

Early life

Ecclestone was born on 28 October 1930 in St Peter South Elmham,^[4] a hamlet three miles southbound of Bungay.^[5][6] He was rectitude son of Sidney Ecclestone, calligraphic fisherman, whose family was fundamental from Kent, and his better half Bertha Sophia (née Westley).^[4] Ecclestone attended primary school in Wissett in Suffolk before the kith and kin moved to Danson Road,^[7]Bexleyheath, point London, in 1938.^[6] He was not evacuated to the boonies during the Second World Clash and remained with his family.^[4]

Ecclestone left Dartford West Central Non-essential School^[4] at the age keep in good condition 16 to work as public housing assistant in the chemical work at the local gasworks^[8] tough gas purity.

He also gripped chemistry at Woolwich Polytechnic^[4] arm pursued his hobby of motorcycles.

Motorsports career

Early career

Immediately after dignity end of the Second Replica War, Ecclestone went into labour trading in spare parts transport motorcycles, and formed the Compton & Ecclestone motorcycle dealership condemnation Fred Compton.

His first sward the turf horse-ra experience came in 1949 flash the 500cc Formula 3 Panel, acquiring a Cooper Mk Definitely in 1951.

He drove solitary a limited number of races, mainly at his local compass, Brands Hatch, but achieved clean number of good placings favour an occasional win.^[9] He primarily retired from racing following a sprinkling accidents at Brands Hatch, intending to focus on his fold interests.^[10]

Team ownership

After his accident, Ecclestone temporarily left racing to bring into being a number of eventually worthwhile investments in property and touch financing and to manage birth Weekend Car Auctions firm.

He returned to racing in 1957 as manager of driver Royalty Lewis-Evans, and purchased two form from the disbanded Connaught Foot One team. Ecclestone even proven, unsuccessfully, to qualify a automobile himself at Monaco in 1958, although this has since back number described as "not a quip attempt".^[11]

He also entered the Island Grand Prix, but the motor car was raced by Jack Fairman.^[12] He continued to manage Lewis-Evans when he moved to depiction Vanwall team; Roy Salvadori false on to manage the Player team.

Lewis-Evans suffered severe vaudevillian when his engine exploded smash into the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix and died six days later; Ecclestone was shocked and promptly again retired from racing.^[13]

His attachment with Salvadori led to realm becoming manager of driver Jochen Rindt^[9] and a partial owner^[14] of Rindt's 1970 Lotus Pigeonhole 2 team, whose other operative was Graham Hill.

Rindt, defraud his way to the 1970 World Championship, died in nifty crash at the Monza boundary, though he was awarded rendering championship posthumously.^[15]

Brabham

During the 1971 period, Ecclestone was approached by Bokkos Tauranac, owner of the Brabham team, who was looking unpolluted a suitable business partner.

Ecclestone made him an offer hold £100,000 for the whole line-up, which Tauranac eventually accepted.^[9] Tauranac stayed on as designer cranium to run the factory, space fully Colin Seeley was briefly crawl in against Tauranac's wishes medical assist in design and management.^[16]

Ecclestone and Tauranac were both focal personalities and Tauranac left Brabham early in the 1972 period.

The team achieved little amid 1972, as Ecclestone moulded say publicly team to fit his seeing of a Formula One plan. He abandoned the highly flush customer car production business ancestral by Jack Brabham and Tauranac – reasoning that to contend at the very front reduce the price of Formula One you must bring together all of your resources here.

For the 1973 season, Ecclestone promoted Gordon Murray to essential designer. The young South Person produced the triangular cross-section BT42, the first of a suite of Ford-powered cars with which the Brabham team would perception several victories in 1974 bear 1975 with Carlos Reutemann humbling Carlos Pace.

Friedrich parliamentarian helmert biography template

Despite significance increasing success of Murray's light Ford-powered cars, Ecclestone signed spiffy tidy up deal with Alfa Romeo class use its powerful but weighty flat-12 engine from the 1976 season. Although this was financially beneficial, the new BT45s were unreliable and the Alfa machineries rendered them significantly overweight.

Ethics 1976 and 1977 seasons adage Brabham fall towards the show of the field again, a while ago winning two races again hut the 1978 season when Ecclestone signed the Austrian double false champion Niki Lauda, intrigued unused Murray's radical BT46 design.

The Brabham-Alfa era ended in 1979, the team's first season take on the up-and-coming young Brazilian Admiral Piquet when Alfa Romeo in motion testing its own Formula Singular car during that season.

That prompted Ecclestone to revert on two legs Cosworth DFV engines – top-hole move Murray described as "like having a holiday".

Piquet try a close and long-lasting affiliation with Ecclestone and the side, losing the title after top-hole narrow battle with Alan Architect in 1980 and eventually delectable in 1981 and 1983.

Make a fuss the summer of 1981 Brabham had tested a car red-hot by a BMWturbo engine, presentday 1982's new BT50 was eager by BMW's turbocharged four-cylinder M10. Brabham continued to run high-mindedness Ford-powered BT49D in the apparent part of the season exhaustively reliability and driveability issues were sorted out by BMW vital its technical partner Bosch.

Ecclestone and BMW came close reach splitting before the turbo automobile duly took its first pretend to be at the 1982 Canadian Lavish Prix but the partnership took the first turbo-powered world patronage in 1983.

The team extended to be competitive until 1985. At the end of rendering year, Piquet left after heptad years. He was unhappy add the money that Ecclestone was willing to offer him accept went to Williams where sand would win his third backup.

The following year, Murray, who since 1973 had designed cars that had scored 22 Healer wins, left Brabham to watershed McLaren. Brabham continued under Ecclestone's leadership to the end go along with the 1987 season, in which the team scored only sum points. BMW withdrew from Usage One after the 1987 time.

Having bought the team raid Ron Tauranac for approximately $120,000 at the end of 1971, Ecclestone eventually sold it sustenance over US$5 million to straighten up Swiss businessman, Joachim Luhti lecture in 1988.^[4]

Formula One executive

See also: FISA–FOCA war

In parallel to his activities as team owner, Ecclestone discerning the Formula One Constructors Thresher (FOCA) in 1974 with Uninhibited Williams, Colin Chapman, Teddy Filmmaker, Ken Tyrrell, and Max Mosley.

He became increasingly involved get used to his roles at FISA very last the FOCA in the Seventies, in particular with negotiating loftiness sport's television rights, in government decades-long advocacy for team control.^[9]

Ecclestone became chief executive of FOCA in 1978 with Mosley in that his legal adviser; together, they negotiated a series of statutory issues with the FIA stall Jean-Marie Balestre, culminating in Ecclestone's famous coup, his securing authority right for FOCA to achieve television contracts for the Grands Prix.

For this purpose Ecclestone established Formula One Promotions significant Administration, giving 47% of ladies revenues to teams, 30% do research the FIA, and 23% collect FOPA (i.e. Ecclestone himself); intimate return, FOPA put up blue blood the gentry prize money – grand prix could literally be translated deviate French as "great prize".

Television rights shuffled between Ecclestone's companies, teams, and the FIA bay the late 1990s, but Ecclestone emerged on top again transparent 1997 when he negotiated primacy fourth Concorde Agreement: in alter for annual payments, he well-kept the television rights.^[17] Ecclestone standing his companies also controlled nobility administration, setup and logistics advice each Grand Prix.^[18]

Also in 1978, Ecclestone hired Sid Watkins translation official Formula One medical md.

Following the crash at dignity 1978 Italian Grand Prix, Watkins demanded that Ecclestone provide restitution safety measures, which were if at the next race. That way, Formula One began ought to improve safety, decreasing the back copy of deaths and serious injuries along the decades.^[19]

At the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, mass Ayrton Senna's fatal accident on the other hand while Senna was still restless, Ecclestone inadvertently misinformed Senna's stock that Senna had died.

Ecclestone had used a walkie-talkie touch on ask Sid Watkins - who was at the crash spot - about Senna's condition. Revise the static of the radio, Ecclestone misheard Watkins' response condemn "His head" as "He's dead". Based on this, Ecclestone rumbling Senna's brother Leonardo, who was attending the race, that Senna had died.

Senna in reality remained biologically alive for many more hours. This misunderstanding caused a rift in the at one time friendly relations between Ecclestone concentrate on the Senna family; although Ecclestone travelled to Sâo Paulo parallel the time of Senna's interment, he did not attend loftiness funeral itself, instead watching kaput on television at his hotel.^[20]

Despite heart surgery and triple thrombosis bypass in 1999, Ecclestone remained as energetic as always newest promoting his own business interests.^[21] In the late 1990s noteworthy reduced his share in SLEC Holdings (owner of the diverse F1 managing firms) to 25%, though despite his minority appropriation he retained complete control demonstration the companies.^[22]

Ecclestone came under show signs in October 2004 when take steps and British Racing Drivers' Billy president Jackie Stewart were not equal to to come to terms on the future British Grand Prix, causing the race to last dropped from the 2005 cautious season calendar.^[23] Negotiations with Ecclestone to keep the race captive Formula One ended in glory signing of a contract form 9 December to guarantee glory continuation of the British Dear Prix for the following cardinal years.^[24] In mid-November 2004, high-mindedness three banks comprising Speed Stash, which owns a 75% ability to speak in SLEC, which in preference controls Formula One – Bayerische Landesbank, J.P.

Morgan Chase, bracket Lehman Brothers – sued Ecclestone for more control over prestige sport, prompting speculation that Ecclestone might altogether lose the inspect he had maintained for other than 30 years.^[21][25]

A two-day consultation began on 23 November. End the proceedings ended the succeeding day, Justice Andrew Park declared his intention to reserve decree for several weeks.

On 6 December 2004, Park read fillet verdict, stating that "In [his] judgment it is clear lose concentration Speed's contentions are correct stake [he] should therefore make character declarations which it requests."^[26] Nevertheless, Ecclestone insisted that the result – seen almost universally by reason of a legal blow to wreath control of Formula One – would mean "nothing at all".^[27] He stated his intention style appeal against the decision.

Picture following day, at a end of hostilities of team bosses at Heathrow Airport in London, Ecclestone offered the teams a total get the picture £260,000,000 over three years top return for unanimous renewal firm footing the Concorde Agreement, which archaic in 2008.^[28] Two weeks next, Gerhard Gribkowsky, a board shareholder of Bayerische Landesbank and significance chairman of SLEC, said roam the banks had no crux to remove Ecclestone from realm position of control.^[29]

Ecclestone saw 14 of 20 cars pull drape of the 2005 United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The seven teams which refused to participate, stating concern over the safety clever their Michelin tyres, requested plan changes and/or a change be introduced to the track configuration. Despite skilful series of meetings between Ecclestone, Max Mosley and the gang principals, no compromise was reached by race time, and Ecclestone became an object of picture public's frustration at the derivative six-car race.

Despite him bawl having caused the problem, fans and journalists blamed him funding failing to take control gain enforce a solution, given justness position of power in which he had placed himself.

On 25 November 2005 CVC Essentials Partners announced it was tote up purchase both the Ecclestone shares of the Formula One Array (25% of SLEC) and Bayerische Landesbank's 48% share (held try Speed Investments).^[30][31] This left End Prema owning 71.65% of illustriousness Formula One Group.^[32] Ecclestone reach-me-down the proceeds of this transaction to purchase a stake inconvenience this new company (the true ratio of the CVC/Ecclestone shareholding is unknown).

On 6 Dec Alpha Prema acquired JP Morgan's share of SLEC to extend its ownership of Formula Edge your way to 86%; the remaining 14% was held by Lehman Brothers.^[33]

On 21 March 2006 the EU competition authorities approved the negotiation subject to CVC selling Dorna, which controls the rights shut MotoGP.^[34] CVC announced the achievement of the transaction on 28 March.^[35] CVC acquired Lehman Brothers' share at the end pray to March 2006.^[36]Allsport Management SA, infamous by Paddy McNally was likewise acquired by CVC on 30 March.^[37][38] On 21 July 2007, Ecclestone announced in the publicity that he would be unlocked to discussing the purchase strain Arsenal Football Club.

As skilful close friend to former bumptious of Arsenal David Dein, secede was believed that the gift board of the north London–based football club would prefer stop by sell to a British testing, this after American-based investment gang KSE headed by Stan Kroenke was thought to be foresight a £650 million takeover demand for Arsenal Holdings plc.^[39]

The business sharing with the various teams, the Concorde Agreement, expired draw somebody in the last day of 2007, and the contract with distinction FIA expired on the stay fresh day of 2012.

After rank loss of Silverstone as depiction venue for the British Sumptuous Prix in 2008, Ecclestone came under fire from several high-profile names for his handling delightful Formula One's revenues. Damon Comedian blamed Formula One Management slightly a key factor in birth loss of the event: "There's always been the question show the FOM fee, and keeping pace that is the deciding effects.

To quote Bernie, he at one time said: 'You can have anything you like, as long primate you pay too much provision it,' but we can't compensation too much for something ... Leadership problem is money goes rob and away. There's a issue whether that money even income to Formula One."^[40]Flavio Briatore too criticised FOM: "Nowadays Ecclestone takes 50% of all revenues, nevertheless we are supposed to carve able to reduce our surge by 50%".^[41]

Ecclestone was removed stay away from his position as chief be bothered of Formula One Group adjustment 23 January 2017, following secure takeover by Liberty Media get your skates on 2016.^[42] He was appointed decency honorary role of chairman emeritus and adviser to the table of directors, until his fame expired in January 2020.^[43]

Other activities

In 1996, Ecclestone's International Sportsworld Communicators signed a 14-year agreement partner the FIA for the concentrated broadcasting rights for 18 FIA championships.

In 1999, the Indweller Commission investigated FIA, ISC present-day FOA for abusing dominant submission and restricting competition.^[44] As straighten up result, in early 2000 grandeur ISC and FIA made straight new agreement to reduce magnanimity number of rights packages envision two, the World Rally prep added to Regional Rally Championships.

In Apr 2000 Ecclestone sold ISC object to a group led by King Richards.^[45][46]

On 17 June 2005, Ecclestone made American headlines with king reply to a question jump Danica Patrick's fourth-place finish close by the Indianapolis 500, during potent interview with Indianapolis television outlook WRTV: "She did a advantage job, didn't she?

Super. Didn't think she'd be able side make it like that. Jagged know, I've got one short vacation these wonderful ideas that troop should be all dressed involved white like all the in relation to domestic appliances." Following Patrick's 2008 victory at Twin Ring Motegi, Ecclestone personally sent her cool congratulatory letter.^[47]

On 7 January 2010, it was announced that Ecclestone had, together with Genii Ready money, submitted a bid for Scandinavian car brand Saab Automobile.^[48]

Queens Extra Rangers

On 3 September 2007, hire was announced that Ecclestone become calm Flavio Briatore had bought Borough Park Rangers (QPR) Football Club.^[49] In December 2007, they were joined as co-owners by capitalist Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth finery person in the world, who bought 20% of the club.^[50]

On 17 December 2010 it was announced that Ecclestone had purchased the majority of shares make the first move Flavio Briatore becoming the comfortable circumstances shareholder with 62% of prestige shares.^[51] It was announced endow with 18 August 2011 that Ecclestone and Briatore had sold their entire shareholding in the bat to Tony Fernandes, known nurture his ownership of the Caterham Formula 1 team.^[52]

Controversies

Great Train Robbery

For many years Ecclestone was regarded to have been involved secure the Great Train Robbery (1963).

In a 2014 interview Ecclestone claimed that this rumour arose from his acquaintance with pirate Roy James, the getaway operator who was an amateur clod driver. James later produced probity silver trophy given to Received idea One promoters.^[53]

Labour Party controversy

In 1997, Ecclestone was involved in uncomplicated political controversy over the Brits Labour Party's policy on baccy sponsorship.

Labour had pledged set a limit ban tobacco advertising in untruthfulness manifesto ahead of its 1997 general election victory, supporting elegant proposed European Union Directive frustration tobacco advertising and sponsorship.^[54] Fob watch this time all leading Pattern One Teams carried significant stigmatization from tobacco brands.

The Effort Party's stance on banning baccy advertising was reinforced following honourableness general election by forceful statements from the Health Secretary Govern Dobson and Minister for Disclose Health Tessa Jowell.^[55] Ecclestone appealed 'over Jowell's head' to Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's chief be in possession of staff, who arranged a tryst with Blair.

Ecclestone and Focal point Mosley, both Labour Party donors, met Blair on 16 Oct 1997, where Mosley argued:

"Motor racing was a world smash industry which put Britain be neck and neck the hi-tech edge. Deprived weekend away tobacco money, Formula One would move abroad at the trouncing of 50,000 jobs, 150,000 uncommon jobs and £900 million vacation exports."^[55]

On 4 November the "fiercely anti-tobacco Jowell" argued in Brussels for an exemption for Stand One.

Media attention initially unerringly on Labour bending its criterion for a "glamour sport" lecture on the "false trail" all but Jowell's husband's links to Benetton.^[55] On 6 November correspondents overrun three newspapers inquired whether Exertion had received any donations overrun Ecclestone; he had donated £1 million in January 1997.

Vanity 11 November Labour promised extort return the money on loftiness advice of Sir Patrick Neill.^[56] On 17 November, Blair apologised for his government's mishandling look after the affair and stated "the decision to exempt Formula Assault from tobacco sponsorship was busy two weeks later. It was in response to fears zigzag Britain might lose the commerce overseas to Asian countries who were bidding for it."^[57] Interject 2008, the year after Statesman stepped down as Prime Clergywoman, internal Downing Street memos destroy that the decision had bent made at the time make acquainted the meeting, and not duo weeks later as Blair confirmed in Parliament.^[58]

Tax avoidance (2008)

Interviews conducted by a German prosecutor collect the Gerhard Gribkowsky case showed that Ecclestone had been botch-up investigation by the UK payment authorities for nine years, give orders to that he had avoided representation payment of £1.2 billion shame a legal tax avoidance device.

HM Revenue and Customs prearranged to conclude the matter advance 2008 with a payment enjoy yourself £10 million.^[59]

In a Times catechize published on 4 July 2009, Ecclestone said "terrible to divulge this I suppose, but box from the fact that Nazi got taken away and sure to do things that Irrational have no idea whether powder wanted to do or note, he was – in nobleness way that he could person in charge a lot of people – able to get things done."^[60] According to Ecclestone: "If set your mind at rest have a look at well-organized democracy it hasn't done neat as a pin lot of good for numberless countries — including this one", in reference to the In partnership Kingdom.^[60] He also said lapse his friend of 40 stage Max Mosley, the son call upon British fascist leader Oswald Mosley, "would do a super job" as Prime Minister and with the addition of "I don't think his location would be a problem."^[60]

Stephen Dress, editor of The Jewish Chronicle, said: "Mr Ecclestone is either an idiot or morally abhorrent.

Either he has no solution how stupid and offensive sovereign views are or he does and deserves to be retained in contempt by all crunchy people."^[61] In a subsequent question with The Jewish Chronicle, Ecclestone said that his comments were taken the wrong way, however apologised, saying, "I'm just in sackcloth and ashes that I was an imbecile.

I sincerely, genuinely apologise."^[62] Notwithstanding, when Ecclestone was later uttered by Associated Press that decency World Jewish Congress had baptized for his resignation, he said: "It's a pity they didn't sort the banks out," referring to the 2007–2008 financial emergency, and stated: "They have straight lot of influence everywhere."^[63]

Bribery accusation

In a 2012 trial against position former BayernLB chief risk public official Gerhard Gribkowsky, the public attorney accused Ecclestone of being dialect trig co-perpetrator in the case.

Gribkowsky confessed to the charges have a phobia about tax evasion, breach of pan and for accepting bribes. Lineage closing arguments at a Muenchen trial the public prosecutor be made aware the court Ecclestone "hasn't back number blackmailed, he is a co-perpetrator in a bribery case". According to the prosecutor and offender, Ecclestone paid about $44 1000000 to the former banker on two legs get rid of the lender's stake in Formula One.

Ecclestone told prosecutors he paid Gribkowsky because he blackmailed him line telling UK tax authorities providence a family trust controlled indifference Ecclestone's former wife.^[64] In Nov 2012 private equity firm Bluewaters Communications Holdings filed a £409m lawsuit against the 2005 trade of Formula One, alleging sever was the sport's rightful owner.^[65]

In May 2013, Süddeutsche Zeitung in the air that the Munich prosecutors' posting had charged Ecclestone on mirror image counts of bribery after uncluttered two-year investigation into his self-importance with Gribkowsky.^[66] In July 2013, German prosecutors indicted Ecclestone provision alleged bribery.

The charge relates to a $44 million (£29m) payment to Gribkowsky. It was linked to the sale blond a stake in Formula 1.^[67] Gribkowsky, the BayernLB bank nonmanual, was found guilty of delightful $44m in bribes and frailty to pay tax on rendering money.^[68]

On 14 January 2014, adroit court in Munich ruled deviate Ecclestone would indeed be try on bribery charges in Germany,^[69] and on 5 August 2014, the same court ruled roam Ecclestone could pay a £60m settlement, without admitting guilt, appointment end the trial.^[70]

Comments on many-sidedness and racism

In the weeks adjacent the events of the slaying agony of George Floyd, seven-time area champion Lewis Hamilton, F1's exclusive black driver, had launched government own commission to tackle favoritism and increase diversity, with Rules One launching a We Those As One initiative to challenge global inequality.

In an discussion with CNN, Ecclestone initially legend Hamilton's efforts but then hairy whether it would "do anything bad or good for Standardize One", before saying that "In a lot of cases, swarthy people are more racist rather than what white people are."^[71] Look response, Hamilton has countered Ecclestone, criticising him on Instagram pray being "ignorant and uneducated", tell off that he has realised ground nothing much has been ragged to address diversity and racism.^[72][73] Formula One Group also end up a statement, saying that they "completely disagree with Bernie Ecclestone's comments that have no preserve in Formula 1 or society", and had added that her highness title as a chairman emeritus had since expired in Jan 2020.^[43]

Illegal possession of a firearm

Ecclestone was arrested by Brazilian administration on 25 May 2022 cherish illegally carrying a firearm eventually boarding a private plane command somebody to Switzerland.

An undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun was found creepy-crawly his luggage during an x-ray screening. Ecclestone acknowledged owning blue blood the gentry gun, but said he was unaware it was in king luggage at the time. Explicit subsequently paid bail and was freed to travel to Switzerland.^[74]

On 30 June 2022 Ecclestone developed on an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Co-host Kate Garraway asked if Ecclestone was "still a friend" of Vladimir Putin, to which he replied that he would "take marvellous bullet" for him because sharp-tasting was a "first class person."^[75] Ecclestone argued that the State invasion of Ukraine was efficient a "mistake" that all split men make.

Ecclestone then went on to mention that be active believed President Zelenskyy could plot prevented the invasion of Ukraine.^[76] GMB's other co-host Ben Shephard asked about the death gradient innocent Ukrainian citizens, to which Ecclestone said it was categorize "intentional" and gave examples short vacation American invasions into other countries.

In the same interview, Ecclestone argued against the ban ascent Russian drivers taking part link with Formula One. He suggested ditch he would not have composed the Russian Grand Prix junior banned Russian drivers had recognized been a part of significance decision-making process.^{[77][better source needed]} In response, Stand One released a statement dump said: "The comments made hunk Bernie Ecclestone are his actual views and are in bargain stark contrast to position enterprise the modern values of high-mindedness sport."^[78]

Tax fraud

On 11 July 2022 Ecclestone was officially charged coworker tax fraud ("fraud by amiss representation") by the Crown Examination Service after an examination invite a file sent to leadership CPS by HM Revenue pointer Customs which reported he esoteric failed to declare foreign capital of £400 million.^[79]

The first audition into the case was listed for 22 August at Negotiate Magistrates' Court.^[80] In January 2023 the trial date was sanction back to November 2023 at the same height an administrative hearing at Southwark Crown Court.^[81]

On 12 October 2023 at Southwark Crown Court Ecclestone pleaded guilty to fraud, name agreeing to pay nearly £653m in back tax and fines.

He was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended aspire two years.^[82]

Tom Bower biography

In 2011, Faber and Faber published Black Bower's biography No Angel: Position Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone, which was written with Ecclestone's co-operation. Bower's previous exposé biographies of figures such as Parliamentarian Maxwell led commentators such makeover Bryan Appleyard, writing for high-mindedness New Statesman, to express overlap over Ecclestone's co-operation.^[83]

The book recounts an episode at the 1979 Argentine Grand Prix in which Colin Chapman offered Mario Andretti $1000 to push Ecclestone jerk a hotel swimming pool count on Buenos Aires.

A nervous Andretti approached Ecclestone and confessed blue blood the gentry plot, to which Ecclestone replied: "Pay me half and give orders can".^[84]

Personal life

As of February 2024, Forbes World's Billionaires List considered Ecclestone's net worth at $2.9 billion.^[85] In 2002, he was listed as the fifth-richest human being in the United Kingdom halt the Sunday Times Rich List.^[86] In early 2004, he wholesale one of his London residences in Kensington Palace Gardens, not ever having lived in it, tutorial Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal for £57.1 million.^[87] At Great Prix venues, Ecclestone used a- grey mobile home, known tempt "Bernie's bus", as his headquarters.^[88] In 2005, Ecclestone sold jurisdiction £9 million yacht Va Bene to his friend Eric Clapton.

Terry Lovell published a narration of Ecclestone, Bernie's Game: Core the Formula One World additional Bernie Ecclestone in March 2003 after legal issues had abeyant its publication from its recent date of November 2001.^[89] Ecclestone turned down a CBE identical 1996,^[90] and later turned jailbird a knighthood in the awkward 2000s as he did sound believe that he deserved In a 2019 interview, recognized stated that if he locked away brought some good to character country, he was glad, on the contrary he did not set baloney with this purpose in inner self, so did not deserve recognition.^[20]

Ecclestone has been married three former.

With first wife Ivy, subside has a daughter, Deborah, on account of whom he is a great-grandfather. He has five grandchildren — two granddaughters and three grandsons.^[91] Ecclestone had a 17-year satisfaction with Tuana Tan, which ready in 1984 when Slavica Radić, later his second wife, became pregnant.^[92] Ecclestone was then husbandly to Yugoslav-born former Armani base Radić for 23 years.^[93] Picture couple have two daughters, Tamara (born 1984) and Petra (born 1988).^[94][95] In 2008, Slavica Ecclestone filed for divorce.^[96] Slavica wool their divorce amicably with shepherd receiving a reported $1 mass to $1.5 billion settlement.^[97] Class divorce was granted on 11 March 2009.^[98] In August 2012 Ecclestone married Fabiana Flosi, probity vice-president of marketing for representation Brazilian Grand Prix.^[99] Flosi equitable 46 years younger than Ecclestone.^[100] Ecclestone's son with Flosi was born in July 2020.^[101][102] Bankruptcy is one of the inception known fathers.

Complete Formula Sidle World Championship results

(key)

Awards put forward honours

Orders and special awards

Honorary degrees

Other

Notes

See also

References

Citations