Bernie Ecclestone

Bernard Charles 'Bernie' Ecclestone (born 28 October 1930 in Bungay, St Peter South Elmham, Suffolk, England) is a British businessman and former racing driver who transformed Formula One into a global commercial phenomenon. Ecclestone started racing in Formula Three in 1949, driving a Cooper Mk V and winning multiple races at Brands Hatch. He returned to racing in 1957 as manager of driver Stuart Lewis-Evans, and after making money through his car dealership business, property investments, and loan financing, he purchased two chassis from the disbanded Connaught Formula One team in 1958. He bought the Connaught cars with the intention of selling them for profit in Australia.

Ecclestone entered the Monaco and British Grands Prix in 1958 as a privateer but failed to qualify at either event. His attempt at Monaco has since been described as 'not a serious attempt,' reflecting the challenges facing privateers during this era. His brief driving career ended without making a single F1 race start. However, Ecclestone's true genius lay in business rather than driving. In 1972, he purchased the Brabham team, which he ran for fifteen years, transforming it into a competitive outfit that won two Drivers' Championships with Nelson Piquet.

More significantly, Ecclestone served as Chief Executive Officer of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration for over 40 years, revolutionizing the commercial side of the sport. Under his leadership, Formula One grew from a predominantly European racing series into a truly global sporting spectacle with worldwide television coverage and massive commercial revenues, making him one of the most influential figures in motorsport history.