Ecclestone Sells £500M Car Collection to Mateschitz

Bernie Ecclestone, former Formula One chief, has sold his iconic car collection, valued at approximately £500 million, to Mark Mateschitz, son of the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. The collection, amassed over 50 years, includes legendary models such as Michael Schumacher's Ferrari F2002 and Niki Lauda's Brabham BT46B, and embodies 70 years of F1 history. Ecclestone sold the collection to relieve his wife Fabiana of future burdens, ensuring the cars went to a knowledgeable and trustworthy new owner. Mateschitz plans to preserve the collection and make it accessible to the public. The sale, which avoided a public auction, has been noted as the largest transaction in the collector car world ever achieved. Ecclestone expressed his confidence in Mateschitz as the 'most worthy' custodian of his prized automobiles.