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Bernie Ecclestone Turns 95 as F1 Reappraises the Sport’s Power Broker

Turning 95 refocuses attention on the deal-maker who remade Formula 1 into a global business.

Overview

  • He engineered F1’s modern commercial model by consolidating TV and track rights after rising through FOCA leadership in the 1970s.
  • He bought Brabham in the early 1970s and oversaw titles with Nelson Piquet in 1981 and 1983 after moving from failed racer to manager.
  • Liberty Media ended his reign by taking control in 2017, prompting his departure as CEO and his exit from official roles by 2020.
  • He admitted holding more than £400 million in a Singapore account, agreed to pay £650 million in back taxes, and received a 17‑month suspended sentence.
  • Forbes pegs his wealth at about $2.4 billion, and his June 29, 2025 appearance on the Austrian GP podium underscored his enduring symbolic presence.