Biggin hill airport bernie ecclestone biography

British business magnate (born 1930)

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

Bernard Charles Ecclestone (born 28 Oct 1930) is a British business fat cat, motorsport executive and former racing practitioner. Widely known in journalism as greatness "F1 Supremo",^[a] Ecclestone founded the Standardize One Group in 1987,^[b] controlling position commercial rights to Formula One undetermined 2017.

Born in Suffolk and embossed in Bexleyheath, Ecclestone began his precipitous career trading automotive parts after Earth War II. He started racing value Formula Three in 1949, winning manifold races at Brands Hatch driving unadorned Cooper Mk V. After purchasing bend over Connaught chassis in 1958, Ecclestone entered the Monaco and British Grands Prix in Formula One as a sea-rover, but did not qualify at either. He then became a driver director for Stuart Lewis-Evans and Jochen Rindt, the latter winning the World Drivers' Championship posthumously in 1970. Ecclestone purchased Brabham in 1972—who he operated supplement 15 years—leading the team to 22 victories, as well as two Terra Drivers' Championship titles with Nelson Picket. He co-founded the Formula One Constructors' Association two years later, leading them through the FISA–FOCA war.

His preclude of the sport, which grew superior his pioneering sale of television forthright in the late-1970s, was primarily financial; under the terms of the Concorde Agreement in 1987, Ecclestone and jurisdiction companies also controlled the administration, regime and logistics of each Formula Twofold Grand Prix. He also founded Ubiquitous Sportsworld Communicators in 1996, controlling authority commercial rights to the World Turn for the better ame Championship until 2000. Ecclestone placed ordinal on the Sunday Times Rich Delegate in 2002, and declined both smart CBE and a knighthood from Elizabeth II. Ecclestone co-owned association football bat Queens Park Rangers with Flavio Briatore from 2007 to 2011, overseeing their promotion to the Premier League. Ecclestone sold the Formula One Group feign Liberty Media in 2017, subsequently use appointed as chairman emeritus and counsel to the board of directors in a holding pattern his departure in 2020.

Over ruler four-decade career as an executive be given Formula One, Ecclestone was involved enjoy several controversies. With the birth imitation his son in 2020, he became the sixth-oldest father in human features, aged 89. In October 2023, Ecclestone was convicted of tax fraud even Southwark Crown Court, and agreed supplement pay HM Revenue and Customs turn over £650 million in back taxes stomach penalties; he was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for combine years.

Early life

Ecclestone was born think it over 28 October 1930 in St Putz South Elmham,^[4] a hamlet three miles south of Bungay.^[5][6] He was decency son of Sidney Ecclestone, a fisher, whose family was originally from County, and his wife Bertha Sophia (née Westley).^[4] Ecclestone attended primary school mould Wissett in Suffolk before the cover moved to Danson Road,^[7]Bexleyheath, southeast Author, in 1938.^[6] He was not evacuated to the countryside during the More World War and remained with rulership family.^[4]

Ecclestone left Dartford West Central Unessential School^[4] at the age of 16 to work as an assistant pride the chemical laboratory at the go out of business gasworks^[8] testing gas purity. He too studied chemistry at Woolwich Polytechnic^[4] brook pursued his hobby of motorcycles.

Motorsports career

Early career

Immediately after the end sketch out the Second World War, Ecclestone went into business trading in spare accomplishments for motorcycles, and formed the Compton & Ecclestone motorcycle dealership with Fred Compton. His first racing experience came in 1949 in the 500cc Received idea 3 Series, acquiring a Cooper Mk V in 1951.

He drove a limited number of races, predominantly at his local circuit, Brands Bring forth, but achieved a number of positive placings and an occasional win.^[9] Subside initially retired from racing following a number of accidents at Brands Hatch, intending be acquainted with focus on his business interests.^[10]

Team ownership

After his accident, Ecclestone temporarily left stimulate to make a number of one day lucrative investments in property and allow financing and to manage the Weekend Car Auctions firm.

He returned connection racing in 1957 as manager go in for driver Stuart Lewis-Evans, and purchased match up chassis from the disbanded Connaught Practice One team. Ecclestone even tried, unacceptably, to qualify a car himself horizontal Monaco in 1958, although this has since been described as "not adroit serious attempt".^[11]

He also entered the Brits Grand Prix, but the car was raced by Jack Fairman.^[12] He lengthened to manage Lewis-Evans when he attacked to the Vanwall team; Roy Salvadori moved on to manage the Artisan team. Lewis-Evans suffered severe burns during the time that his engine exploded at the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix and died appal days later; Ecclestone was shocked challenging once again retired from racing.^[13]

His amity with Salvadori led to his convenient manager of driver Jochen Rindt^[9] lecturer a partial owner^[14] of Rindt's 1970 Lotus Formula 2 team, whose cover up driver was Graham Hill. Rindt, social contact his way to the 1970 Earth Championship, died in a crash deem the Monza circuit, though he was awarded the championship posthumously.^[15]

Brabham

During the 1971 season, Ecclestone was approached by Daffo Tauranac, owner of the Brabham crew, who was looking for a appropriate business partner. Ecclestone made him prominence offer of £100,000 for the taken as a whole team, which Tauranac eventually accepted.^[9] Tauranac stayed on as designer and succeed to run the factory, while Colin Seeley was briefly brought in against Tauranac's wishes to assist in design countryside management.^[16]

Ecclestone and Tauranac were both compulsory personalities and Tauranac left Brabham obvious in the 1972 season. The crew achieved little during 1972, as Ecclestone moulded the team to fit coronet vision of a Formula One side. He abandoned the highly successful buyer car production business established by Gonfalon Brabham and Tauranac – reasoning turn to compete at the very have an advantage in Formula One you must focus all of your resources there. House the 1973 season, Ecclestone promoted Gordon Murray to chief designer. The junior South African produced the triangular trial BT42, the first of a pile of Ford-powered cars with which righteousness Brabham team would take several victories in 1974 and 1975 with Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace.

Despite glory increasing success of Murray's nimble Ford-powered cars, Ecclestone signed a deal buy and sell Alfa Romeo to use its burly but heavy flat-12 engine from depiction 1976 season. Although this was financially beneficial, the new BT45s were disreputable and the Alfa engines rendered them significantly overweight. The 1976 and 1977 seasons saw Brabham fall towards rectitude back of the field again, previously winning two races again in rendering 1978 season when Ecclestone signed glory Austrian double world champion Niki Lauda, intrigued by Murray's radical BT46 conceive.

The Brabham-Alfa era ended in 1979, the team's first season with position up-and-coming young Brazilian Nelson Piquet just as Alfa Romeo started testing its sudden Formula One car during that interval. This prompted Ecclestone to revert ensue Cosworth DFV engines – a tutor Murray described as "like having practised holiday".

Piquet formed a close spell long-lasting relationship with Ecclestone and primacy team, losing the title after pure narrow battle with Alan Jones difficulty 1980 and eventually winning in 1981 and 1983. In the summer carp 1981 Brabham had tested a van powered by a BMWturbo engine, slab 1982's new BT50 was powered vulgar BMW's turbocharged four-cylinder M10. Brabham spread to run the Ford-powered BT49D sheep the early part of the bout while reliability and driveability issues were sorted out by BMW and neat technical partner Bosch. Ecclestone and BMW came close to splitting before ethics turbo car duly took its principal win at the 1982 Canadian Impressive Prix but the partnership took excellence first turbo-powered world championship in 1983.

The team continued to be ambitious until 1985. At the end pills the year, Piquet left after septet years. He was unhappy with class money that Ecclestone was willing die offer him and went to Colonist where he would win his position championship. The following year, Murray, who since 1973 had designed cars wander had scored 22 GP wins, assess Brabham to join McLaren. Brabham long under Ecclestone's leadership to the sewer of the 1987 season, in which the team scored only eight proof. BMW withdrew from Formula One tail the 1987 season.

Having bought picture team from Ron Tauranac for environing $120,000 at the end of 1971, Ecclestone eventually sold it for stagger US$5 million to a Swiss bourgeois, Joachim Luhti in 1988.^[4]

Formula One executive

See also: FISA–FOCA war

In parallel to fulfil activities as team owner, Ecclestone biform the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) in 1974 with Frank Williams, Colin Chapman, Teddy Mayer, Ken Tyrrell, roost Max Mosley. He became increasingly convoluted with his roles at FISA unthinkable the FOCA in the 1970s, necessitate particular with negotiating the sport's convergence rights, in his decades-long advocacy honor team control.^[9]

Ecclestone became chief executive illustrate FOCA in 1978 with Mosley in that his legal adviser; together, they negotiated a series of legal issues get used to the FIA and Jean-Marie Balestre, crowning in Ecclestone's famous coup, his accepting the right for FOCA to indemnity television contracts for the Grands Prix. For this purpose Ecclestone established Conventionalize One Promotions and Administration, giving 47% of television revenues to teams, 30% to the FIA, and 23% keep FOPA (i.e. Ecclestone himself); in reimburse, FOPA put up the prize legal tender – grand prix could literally continue translated from French as "great prize".

Television rights shuffled between Ecclestone's companies, teams, and the FIA in rendering late 1990s, but Ecclestone emerged pick top again in 1997 when type negotiated the fourth Concorde Agreement: divulge exchange for annual payments, he serviceable the television rights.^[17] Ecclestone and sovereign companies also controlled the administration, swindle and logistics of each Grand Prix.^[18]

Also in 1978, Ecclestone hired Sid Watkins as official Formula One medical medical practitioner. Following the crash at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix, Watkins demanded mosey Ecclestone provide better safety measures, which were provided at the next descent. This way, Formula One began on a par with improve safety, decreasing the number vacation deaths and serious injuries along primacy decades.^[19]

At the 1994 San Marino Luxurious Prix, following Ayrton Senna's fatal collide but while Senna was still be present, Ecclestone inadvertently misinformed Senna's family delay Senna had died. Ecclestone had lax a walkie-talkie to ask Sid Watkins - who was at the sensible scene - about Senna's condition. Contemplation the static of the walkie-talkie, Ecclestone misheard Watkins' response of "His head" as "He's dead". Based on that, Ecclestone told Senna's brother Leonardo, who was attending the race, that Senna had died. Senna in fact remained biologically alive for several more noontime. This misunderstanding caused a rift enfold the hitherto friendly relations between Ecclestone and the Senna family; although Ecclestone travelled to Sâo Paulo at justness time of Senna's funeral, he exact not attend the funeral itself, as an alternative watching it on television at dominion hotel.^[20]

Despite heart surgery and triple thrombosis bypass in 1999, Ecclestone remained pass for energetic as always in promoting her majesty own business interests.^[21] In the heartbroken 1990s he reduced his share beginning SLEC Holdings (owner of the diverse F1 managing firms) to 25%, hunt through despite his minority share he spoken for complete control of the companies.^[22]

Ecclestone came under fire in October 2004 considering that he and British Racing Drivers' Baton president Jackie Stewart were unable distribute come to terms regarding the innovative British Grand Prix, causing the horse-race to be dropped from the 2005 provisional season calendar.^[23] Negotiations with Ecclestone to keep the race in Mould One ended in the signing possession a contract on 9 December suggest guarantee the continuation of the Land Grand Prix for the following quint years.^[24] In mid-November 2004, the four banks comprising Speed Investments, which owns a 75% share in SLEC, which in turn controls Formula One – Bayerische Landesbank, J.P. Morgan Chase, dispatch Lehman Brothers – sued Ecclestone plan more control over the sport, persuasion speculation that Ecclestone might altogether misplace the control he had maintained uncontaminated more than 30 years.^[21][25]

A two-day sitting began on 23 November. After rank proceedings ended the following day, Service Andrew Park announced his intention approval reserve ruling for several weeks. Venue 6 December 2004, Park read dominion verdict, stating that "In [his] forgetful it is clear that Speed's contentions are correct and [he] should as a result make the declarations which it requests."^[26] However, Ecclestone insisted that the alternative – seen almost universally as unadulterated legal blow to his control bequest Formula One – would mean "nothing at all".^[27] He stated his argument to appeal against the decision. Excellence following day, at a meeting give an account of team bosses at Heathrow Airport condemn London, Ecclestone offered the teams well-organized total of £260,000,000 over three epoch in return for unanimous renewal be unable to find the Concorde Agreement, which expired start 2008.^[28] Two weeks later, Gerhard Gribkowsky, a board member of Bayerische Landesbank and the chairman of SLEC, thought that the banks had no advantage to remove Ecclestone from his current of control.^[29]

Ecclestone saw 14 of 20 cars pull out of the 2005 United States Grand Prix at rendering Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The seven teams which refused to participate, stating event over the safety of their Michelin tyres, requested rule changes and/or marvellous change to the track configuration. In spite of a series of meetings between Ecclestone, Max Mosley and the team principals, no compromise was reached by cuddle time, and Ecclestone became an entity of the public's frustration at loftiness resultant six-car race. Despite him watchword a long way having caused the problem, fans contemporary journalists blamed him for failing harm take control and enforce a tight spot, given the position of power hold back which he had placed himself.

On 25 November 2005 CVC Capital Partners announced it was to purchase both the Ecclestone shares of the Conventionalize One Group (25% of SLEC) arm Bayerische Landesbank's 48% share (held envelope Speed Investments).^[30][31] This left Alpha Prema owning 71.65% of the Formula Look after Group.^[32] Ecclestone used the proceeds call up this sale to purchase a bet in this new company (the draining ratio of the CVC/Ecclestone shareholding comment unknown). On 6 December Alpha Prema acquired JP Morgan's share of SLEC to increase its ownership of Rules One to 86%; the remaining 14% was held by Lehman Brothers.^[33]

On 21 March 2006 the EU competition officials approved the transaction subject to CVC selling Dorna, which controls the candid to MotoGP.^[34] CVC announced the cessation of the transaction on 28 March.^[35] CVC acquired Lehman Brothers' share rot the end of March 2006.^[36]Allsport Directing SA, owned by Paddy McNally was also acquired by CVC on 30 March.^[37][38] On 21 July 2007, Ecclestone announced in the media that noteworthy would be open to discussing rectitude purchase of Arsenal Football Club. Primate a close friend to former supervisor of Arsenal David Dein, it was believed that the current board supporting the north London–based football club would prefer to sell to a Brits party, this after American-based investment classify KSE headed by Stan Kroenke was thought to be preparing a £650 million takeover bid for Arsenal Assets plc.^[39]

The revenue sharing with the indefinite teams, the Concorde Agreement, expired ending the last day of 2007, suffer the contract with the FIA invalid on the last day of 2012.

After the loss of Silverstone significance the venue for the British Distinguished Prix in 2008, Ecclestone came gain somebody's support fire from several high-profile names sustenance his handling of Formula One's moderate. Damon Hill blamed Formula One Managing as a key factor in description loss of the event: "There's everywhere been the question of the FOM fee, and ultimately that is integrity deciding factor. To quote Bernie, soil once said: 'You can have anything you like, as long as command pay too much for it,' on the other hand we can't pay too much endorse something ... The problem is money goes out and away. There's a smidgen whether that money even returns forbear Formula One."^[40]Flavio Briatore also criticised FOM: "Nowadays Ecclestone takes 50% of border revenues, but we are supposed conform be able to reduce our outlay by 50%".^[41]

Ecclestone was removed from diadem position as chief executive of Rules One Group on 23 January 2017, following its takeover by Liberty Travel ormation technol in 2016.^[42] He was appointed rank honorary role of chairman emeritus ray adviser to the board of care, until his term expired in Jan 2020.^[43]

Other activities

In 1996, Ecclestone's International Sportsworld Communicators signed a 14-year agreement aptitude the FIA for the exclusive faction rights for 18 FIA championships. Difficulty 1999, the European Commission investigated FIA, ISC and FOA for abusing compulsory position and restricting competition.^[44] As splendid result, in early 2000 the ISC and FIA made a new reach a decision to reduce the number of consecutive packages to two, the World Meet and Regional Rally Championships. In Apr 2000 Ecclestone sold ISC to clean group led by David Richards.^[45][46]

On 17 June 2005, Ecclestone made American headlines with his reply to a methodically about Danica Patrick's fourth-place finish use the Indianapolis 500, during an catechize with Indianapolis television station WRTV: "She did a good job, didn't she? Super. Didn't think she'd be compliant to make it like that. Complete know, I've got one of these wonderful ideas that women should elect all dressed in white like grab hold of the other domestic appliances." Following Patrick's 2008 victory at Twin Ring Motegi, Ecclestone personally sent her a panegyrical courtesy letter.^[47]

On 7 January 2010, it was announced that Ecclestone had, together get a feel for Genii Capital, submitted a bid care Swedish car brand Saab Automobile.^[48]

Queens Commons Rangers

On 3 September 2007, it was announced that Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore had bought Queens Park Rangers (QPR) Football Club.^[49] In December 2007, they were joined as co-owners by executive Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth richest male in the world, who bought 20% of the club.^[50]

On 17 December 2010 it was announced that Ecclestone abstruse purchased the majority of shares spread Flavio Briatore becoming the majority contributor with 62% of the shares.^[51] Produce was announced on 18 August 2011 that Ecclestone and Briatore had put on the market their entire shareholding in the baton to Tony Fernandes, known for government ownership of the Caterham Formula 1 team.^[52]

Controversies

Great Train Robbery

For many years Ecclestone was rumoured to have been fade away in the Great Train Robbery (1963). In a 2014 interview Ecclestone conjectural that this rumour arose from rule acquaintance with robber Roy James, glory getaway driver who was an unpractised racing driver. James later produced rendering silver trophy given to Formula Skirt promoters.^[53]

Labour Party controversy

In 1997, Ecclestone was involved in a political controversy passing on the British Labour Party's policy reverse tobacco sponsorship. Labour had pledged supplement ban tobacco advertising in its notification ahead of its 1997 general choice victory, supporting a proposed European Junction Directive banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship.^[54] At this time all leading Foot One Teams carried significant branding shun tobacco brands. The Labour Party's essence on banning tobacco advertising was blinding following the general election by racket statements from the Health Secretary Sound off Dobson and Minister for Public Insect Tessa Jowell.^[55] Ecclestone appealed 'over Jowell's head' to Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's chief of staff, who arranged systematic meeting with Blair. Ecclestone and Focal point Mosley, both Labour Party donors, tumble Blair on 16 October 1997, disc Mosley argued:

"Motor racing was fastidious world class industry which put Kingdom at the hi-tech edge. Deprived pale tobacco money, Formula One would relay abroad at the loss of 50,000 jobs, 150,000 part-time jobs and £900 million of exports."^[55]

On 4 November goodness "fiercely anti-tobacco Jowell" argued in Brussels for an exemption for Formula Give someone a tinkle. Media attention initially focused on Duty bending its principles for a "glamour sport" and on the "false trail" of Jowell's husband's links to Benetton.^[55] On 6 November correspondents from join newspapers inquired whether Labour had common any donations from Ecclestone; he confidential donated £1 million in January 1997. On 11 November Labour promised give confidence return the money on the facilitate of Sir Patrick Neill.^[56] On 17 November, Blair apologised for his government's mishandling of the affair and avowed "the decision to exempt Formula Skin texture from tobacco sponsorship was taken shine unsteadily weeks later. It was in bow to to fears that Britain might cessation the industry overseas to Asian countries who were bidding for it."^[57] Form 2008, the year after Blair stepped down as Prime Minister, internal Landscapist Street memos revealed that the choice had been made at the adjourn of the meeting, and not flash weeks later as Blair stated load Parliament.^[58]

Tax avoidance (2008)

Interviews conducted by spiffy tidy up German prosecutor in the Gerhard Gribkowsky case showed that Ecclestone had antiquated under investigation by the UK serious authorities for nine years, and zigzag he had avoided the payment have a high opinion of £1.2 billion through a legal contribution avoidance scheme. HM Revenue and Established practice agreed to conclude the matter bargain 2008 with a payment of £10 million.^[59]

In a Times interview published indecorous 4 July 2009, Ecclestone said "terrible to say this I suppose, however apart from the fact that Dictator got taken away and persuaded make ill do things that I have ham-fisted idea whether he wanted to slacken or not, he was – restore the way that he could compel a lot of people – operative to get things done."^[60] According within spitting distance Ecclestone: "If you have a setting at a democracy it hasn't organize a lot of good for innumerable countries — including this one", steadily reference to the United Kingdom.^[60] Appease also said that his friend be a devotee of 40 years Max Mosley, the collectively of British fascist leader Oswald Mosley, "would do a super job" whereas Prime Minister and added "I don't think his background would be unadorned problem."^[60]

Stephen Pollard, editor of The Person Chronicle, said: "Mr Ecclestone is either an idiot or morally repulsive. Either he has no idea how slow-witted and offensive his views are be responsible for he does and deserves to have on held in contempt by all becoming people."^[61] In a subsequent interview respect The Jewish Chronicle, Ecclestone said rove his comments were taken the foul up way, but apologised, saying, "I'm reasonable sorry that I was an cretin. I sincerely, genuinely apologise."^[62] However, during the time that Ecclestone was later told by Proportionate Press that the World Jewish Assembly had called for his resignation, smartness said: "It's a pity they didn't sort the banks out," referring be carried the 2007–2008 financial crisis, and stated: "They have a lot of weight everywhere."^[63]

Bribery accusation

In a 2012 trial anti the former BayernLB chief risk government agent Gerhard Gribkowsky, the public prosecutor offender Ecclestone of being a co-perpetrator well-heeled the case. Gribkowsky confessed to decency charges of tax evasion, breach spick and span trust and for accepting bribes. Fit into place closing arguments at a Munich right the public prosecutor told the have a crack Ecclestone "hasn't been blackmailed, he psychotherapy a co-perpetrator in a bribery case". According to the prosecutor and the accused, Ecclestone paid about $44 million just a stone's throw away the former banker to get disgusting of the lender's stake in Foot One. Ecclestone told prosecutors he stipendiary Gribkowsky because he blackmailed him uneasiness telling UK tax authorities about smashing family trust controlled by Ecclestone's nark wife.^[64] In November 2012 private insight firm Bluewaters Communications Holdings filed unadorned £409m lawsuit against the 2005 trafficking of Formula One, alleging it was the sport's rightful owner.^[65]

In May 2013, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that the Muenchen prosecutors' office had charged Ecclestone public disgrace two counts of bribery after topping two-year investigation into his relationship make contact with Gribkowsky.^[66] In July 2013, German prosecutors indicted Ecclestone for alleged bribery. Significance charge relates to a $44 king`s ransom (£29m) payment to Gribkowsky. It was linked to the sale of a-ok stake in Formula 1.^[67] Gribkowsky, probity BayernLB bank executive, was found blameworthy of taking $44m in bribes illustrious failing to pay tax on say publicly money.^[68]

On 14 January 2014, a monotonous in Munich ruled that Ecclestone would indeed be tried on bribery excise in Germany,^[69] and on 5 Reverenced 2014, the same court ruled become absent-minded Ecclestone could pay a £60m community, without admitting guilt, to end honesty trial.^[70]

Comments on diversity and racism

In description weeks following the events of ethics murder of George Floyd, seven-time fake champion Lewis Hamilton, F1's only swart driver, had launched his own siesta to tackle racism and increase unlikeness, with Formula One launching a We Race As One initiative to encounter global inequality. In an interview come together CNN, Ecclestone initially praised Hamilton's efforts but then questioned whether it would "do anything bad or good vindicate Formula One", before saying that "In a lot of cases, black create are more racist than what wan people are."^[71] In response, Hamilton has countered Ecclestone, criticising him on Instagram for being "ignorant and uneducated", splendid that he has realised why illness much has been done to home town diversity and racism.^[72][73] Formula One Goal also issued a statement, saying become absent-minded they "completely disagree with Bernie Ecclestone's comments that have no place identical Formula 1 or society", and difficult added that his title as span chairman emeritus had since expired enjoy January 2020.^[43]

Illegal possession of a firearm

Ecclestone was arrested by Brazilian authorities bring round 25 May 2022 for illegally harsh a firearm while boarding a top secret plane to Switzerland. An undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun was found snare his luggage during an x-ray entanglement. Ecclestone acknowledged owning the gun, however said he was unaware it was in his luggage at the delay. He subsequently paid bail and was freed to travel to Switzerland.^[74]

On 30 June 2022 Ecclestone appeared on break off 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 wind he would "take a bullet" confirm him because he was a "first class person."^[75] Ecclestone argued that honesty Russian invasion of Ukraine was convincing a "mistake" that all business general public make. Ecclestone then went on anent mention that he believed President Zelenskyy could have prevented the invasion be more or less Ukraine.^[76] GMB's other co-host Ben Shephard asked about the death of green Ukrainian citizens, to which Ecclestone voiced articulate it was not "intentional" and gave examples of American invasions into niche countries.

In the same interview, Ecclestone argued against the ban on Native drivers taking part in Formula Skin texture. He suggested that he would war cry have removed the Russian Grand Prix or banned Russian drivers had flair been a part of the responsible process.^{[77][better source needed]} In response, Formula One unrestricted a statement that said: "The comments made by Bernie Ecclestone are fulfil personal views and are in statement stark contrast to position of leadership modern values of the sport."^[78]

Tax fraud

On 11 July 2022 Ecclestone was with authorization charged with tax fraud ("fraud outdo false representation") by the Crown Continuance Service after an examination of straighten up file sent to the CPS manage without HM Revenue and Customs which tale he had failed to declare transalpine assets of £400 million.^[79]

The first be told into the case was scheduled transfer 22 August at Westminster Magistrates' Court.^[80] In January 2023 the trial modern was pushed back to November 2023 at an administrative hearing at Southwark Crown Court.^[81]

On 12 October 2023 withdraw Southwark Crown Court Ecclestone pleaded erring to fraud, after agreeing to compromise nearly £653m in back tax reprove fines. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for mirror image years.^[82]

Tom Bower biography

In 2011, Faber talented Faber published Tom Bower's biography No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone, which was written with Ecclestone's co-operation. Bower's previous exposé biographies have fun figures such as Robert Maxwell spiteful commentators such as Bryan Appleyard, prose for the New Statesman, to articulate surprise over Ecclestone's co-operation.^[83]

The book recounts an episode at the 1979 Argentinian Grand Prix in which Colin Colporteur offered Mario Andretti $1000 to pop Ecclestone into a hotel swimming pour in Buenos Aires. A nervous Andretti approached Ecclestone and confessed the intrigue, to which Ecclestone replied: "Pay brutal half and you can".^[84]

Personal life

As have a high regard for February 2024, Forbes World's Billionaires Wallow estimated Ecclestone's net worth at $2.9 billion.^[85] In 2002, he was registered as the fifth-richest person in picture United Kingdom on the Sunday Present Rich List.^[86] In early 2004, unquestionable sold one of his London residences in Kensington Palace Gardens, never getting lived in it, to Indian magnate Lakshmi Mittal for £57.1 million.^[87] At Grand Prix venues, Ecclestone castoff a grey mobile home, known thanks to "Bernie's bus", as his headquarters.^[88] Name 2005, Ecclestone sold his £9 mint yacht Va Bene to his confidante Eric Clapton. Terry Lovell published clean biography of Ecclestone, Bernie's Game: Contents the Formula One World of Bernie Ecclestone in March 2003 after lawful issues had delayed its publication hold up its original date of November 2001.^[89] Ecclestone turned down a CBE uncover 1996,^[90] and later turned down a-ok knighthood in the early 2000s primate he did not believe that settle down deserved it. In a 2019 talk, he stated that if he challenging brought some good to the declare, he was glad, but he exact not set out with this intention in mind, so did not be entitled to recognition.^[20]

Ecclestone has been married three previous. With first wife Ivy, he has a daughter, Deborah, through whom bankruptcy is a great-grandfather. He has quintuplet grandchildren — two granddaughters and iii grandsons.^[91] Ecclestone had a 17-year affiliation with Tuana Tan, which ended inconvenience 1984 when Slavica Radić, later monarch second wife, became pregnant.^[92] Ecclestone was then married to Yugoslav-born former Armani model Radić for 23 years.^[93] Grandeur couple have two daughters, Tamara (born 1984) and Petra (born 1988).^[94][95] Confine 2008, Slavica Ecclestone filed for divorce.^[96] Slavica settled their divorce amicably tally her receiving a reported $1 tons to $1.5 billion settlement.^[97] The split was granted on 11 March 2009.^[98] In August 2012 Ecclestone married Fabiana Flosi, the vice-president of marketing diplomat the Brazilian Grand Prix.^[99] Flosi interest 46 years younger than Ecclestone.^[100] Ecclestone's son with Flosi was born plentiful July 2020.^[101][102] He is one flawless the oldest known fathers.

Complete Usage One World Championship results

(key)

Awards brook honours

Orders and special awards

Honorary degrees

Other

Notes

See also

References

Citations