Ecclestone is only a few years off the record for being the world's oldest father, which is reportedly held by the former Indian wrestler and farmer Ramjit Raghav, who fathered a child at the grand old age of 96 in 2012.
British billionaire's 44-year-old wife Fabiana due to give birth in July.
Published: Fri 3 Apr 2020, 4:04 AM
Updated: Fri 3 Apr 2020, 5:40 PM
- By
- Web report (with inputs from Reuters)
London: Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, 89, is set to become a father for the fourth time, the billionaire has revealed.
Ecclestone, who is currently in his Brazilian farm north of Sao Paulo as he and his wife Fabiana Flosi self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, will turn 90 in October - shortly after the baby boy's July due date.
It will be Ecclestone's first son.
"Yes, it is due in the summer," Ecclestone - who has five grandchildren and a great grandchild - told Swiss newspaper Blick on Thursday after German media broke the news.
"Hopefully he'll learn to play backgammon soon!"
The baby boy will be Ecclestone's fourth child, having had a daughter Deborah (65) with first wife Ivy Bamford, as well as reality television star pair Tamara (35) and Petra (31) with second wife Slavica Radic.
Eccelstone and Brazilian marketing director Fabiana, 44, married in 2012 at his ski chalet in Switzerland.
"Like all parents we have only one wish: the child must be born healthy," she told Blick. "Hopefully he will never express any interest in doing something in Formula 1!" Ecclestone, who met his wife through the World Motor Sport Council in 2009, added.
He said he was trying to remain upbeat during the coronavirus crisis: "Otherwise you'll break yourself. I just want everything to be good with Fabiana even if the isolation goes on longer.
"Fortunately the farm never runs out of work. Fabiana also looks after her own coffee plantation."
Ecclestone is only a few years off the record for being the world's oldest father, which is reportedly held by the former Indian wrestler and farmer Ramjit Raghav, who fathered a child at the grand old age of 96 in 2012.,
Ecclestone has amassed an estimated fortune of Dh 11.38billion from his involvement in Formula 1.
His happy news follows the sad announcement earlier this week that the first eight F1 races of the 2020 season have been called off due to the coronavirus.
The Canadian Grand Prix is the next scheduled race, in mid-June, with the British Grand Prix due to take place just over a month later.
Last week, governing body Motorsport UK extended its suspension of events in Britain until the end of June.
With so many sporting events already cancelled or postponed, it is unlikely Silverstone will be able to stage the event but organisers are keeping their options open.
"Silverstone and Formula 1 remain in close dialogue regarding the ongoing situation and are assessing the feasibility of holding the British Grand Prix on 17th-19th July," a joint statement from Silverstone and Formula One said on Wednesday.
"We fully appreciate that other UK sporting events in July have taken decisions regarding their events, but it is important to highlight that their logistics and sporting arrangements differ from Silverstone's and, therefore, our timeline gives us until the end of April to make a final decision.
"The safety of our fans, colleagues and the F1 community will be our priority and we will continue to engage with the appropriate authorities."
Ecclestone told Reuters last week that he saw little hope for the F1 season commencing.
"I think I'd have to say we're going to close down talk of having any races this year," said the Briton.
"That's the only thing you could do safely for everybody so nobody starts making silly arrangements which may not be able to happen."
It is understood that Formula One are keen to publish a revised calendar for the season before any further races are postponed.
The season-opening Australian Grand Prix was scrapped at the last minute after a McLaren employee who had travelled to Melbourne tested positive for the virus.
The Monaco Grand Prix has also been cancelled, with others keen to find dates later in the year.
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