32-Year-Old Red Bull Heir Purchases Bernie Ecclestone’s Incredible F1 Car Collection

      Screenshot Tom Hartley Jnr Ltd/YouTube

      Last year, former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone surprised the automotive industry with two remarkable announcements. Firstly, he revealed that he had secretly gathered a collection of 69 iconic F1 cars, featuring models driven by legends like Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, and Niki Lauda. Secondly, he announced that he was selling the entire collection. It didn't take long for the F1 mogul to find a buyer, and now the cars are destined for a museum.

      According to Reuters, Mark Mateschitz, the 32-year-old heir to Red Bull, acquired the full collection. Although transaction details are not publicly available, The Daily Mail reported that the collection was valued at roughly £500 million, equating to about $646 million at the current exchange rate. Ecclestone stated that his intentions weren’t purely financial; he wanted the cars to go to someone he trusts, which is understandable. He mentioned concerns about the future of his less valuable vehicles, while Ecclestone’s collection existed on a different level.

      “They’ve gone to a good home, which was my primary concern. They’ll be displayed somewhere, in a museum so that people can finally see them, which has never happened before,” the 94-year-old said to Reuters. Reports indicated that the cars were kept in a large hangar at the Biggin Hill airfield, situated south of London, and this facility was never open to the public.

      Mateschitz has not disclosed the exact location where the cars will be exhibited, only stating that they will be shown “at an appropriate location.” However, it's likely we will be among the first to purchase tickets when they become available. He also mentioned plans to expand the collection in the upcoming years. From a logistical perspective, opening the museum in England would likely be the most sensible choice. Just think about the challenges of transporting nearly 70 cars valued at over $640 million off an island. On the other hand, if you possess that level of wealth, spending an additional million on shipping is likely not a major concern.

      Ecclestone dedicated over 50 years to building this collection. His position and salary as the head of F1 placed him in a unique position to acquire some of the most remarkable cars ever to compete in a grand prix. Similar to how Ecclestone wished to avoid having his collection fall into the wrong hands, F1 teams typically do not sell cars to the highest bidder. Cars are generally regarded as obsolete after one season. Some are retained by the team that used them while others are dismantled. The limited few that enter private ownership are often sold as rolling chassis without a drivetrain.

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