Bernie feels the financial pinch

Posted on 25/04/2010

Bernie Ecclestone asks Fernando Alonso if he can borrow a few dollars © Getty Images

Spare a thought for poor old Bernie Ecclestone … in fact, perhaps they could send round some collections buckets in Barcelona in a fortnight’s time.

The latest Sunday Times Rich List reports that the man F1 fans love to hate has seen his personal wealth plummet as a result of his divorce from wife Slavica which is estimated to have cost him up to a third of his fortune. As a result, he drops from being 24th richest man in Britain to 38th, worth a pathetic £1.375 billion.

This could explain why he is looking to expand the F1 calendar and bring in new grands prix around the world. When things are tight, you need to look at every revenue stream …