Oct.28 (GMM) As Bernie Ecclestone celebrates his 95th birthday, the former Formula 1 supremo says that at this stage of life, just one person still qualifies as a true friend – Flavio Briatore.
Speaking to Bild in Gstaad, where he had invited German journalist Helmut Uhl, 74, and former Formula 1 Management colleague Hannah Gude, Ecclestone reflected on his long and often lonely journey through motorsport and business.
“My daughters wanted a big party,” he smiled. “I’d rather fly with Fabi and Ace to my ranch in Brazil.”
Asked how many friends he has, Ecclestone paused. “That’s a very, very good question. Of course, many friends came and went,” he said, raising his fingers in air quotes around the word ‘friends’.
“But I had real friends, please wait a minute … maybe four. Yes, four.”
Three of them – Jochen Rindt, Max Mosley and Niki Lauda – are no longer alive. When Uhl handed him a photo from Lauda’s funeral, Ecclestone immediately returned it. “I don’t want it,” he said.
So who remains? “Flavio Briatore,” Ecclestone answered. “The only one still alive.”
“What is a friend to you?” Uhl asked.
“It can only be someone you stick with through thick and thin over a long period of time, someone you trust 100 percent, and who isn’t afraid of taking any risks,” Ecclestone replied.
“I have an example of that with Flavio. When his yacht was confiscated by the authorities in Italy in 2010 for undeclared fuel tax, I bought it at auction and sold it back to him for the same price – plus one dollar,” he laughed.
When asked if he worried about authorities reading that, Ecclestone grinned: “That’s friendship for me.”
He also mentioned Karl-Heinz Zimmermann as a friend, “but the four I mentioned have accompanied me longer and more closely.”
Now living quietly between Switzerland and Brazil, Ecclestone still follows Formula 1 religiously. “I watch every race, even every practice session, and I get up at the appropriate times for the overseas races,” he said.
His wife Fabiana, 49, says Bernie is a devoted father to five-year-old Ace despite his age. “It’s working very well. Bernie and I are a team, and we’re raising Ace as a team,” she said. “When I get impatient, Bernie calmly explains that Ace can’t watch TV for half an hour until he’s done his homework.”
“It’s not easy to explain to Ace that online, tablet, and YouTube are only allowed on Tuesdays, while his classmates can use them every day,” she added. “I think it’s a good idea for him to get his first cell phone at 12 or 14.”
Ecclestone added proudly: “Ace has accepted this and doesn’t complain. He’s bright, intelligent, a wonderful boy. I already see no limits to what he’ll be capable of.”
Despite an estimated fortune of up to USD 10 billion, Ecclestone insists money was never his main drive. “It sounds unbelievable, I know, but money and being rich were never my motivation,” he said. “My ideas and deals were what drove me.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES