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Former F1 World Champion once invited supremo Bernie Ecclestone to his own honeymoon

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Former F1 World Champion once invited supremo Bernie Ecclestone to his own honeymoon

Bernie Ecclestone has always been a very polarizing figure in the world of F1. People often label the former F1 supremo as the man who revolutionized the sport forever and while certain aspects of it are true, the fact that he hasn’t been short of controversy cannot be discounted.

Ecclestone has had some very strong opinions about sensitive issues such as racism and equality in the past. However, he has always been someone who has been under the spotlight, be it positive or negative. In fact, he was so popular among the F1 community that a former World Champion invited him on his own honeymoon.

A documentary surrounding Ecclestone’s life recently came out on Discovery+ and it is titled ‘Lucky!’. In it, he offers a glimpse into his life and career in the world of F1. In the documentary, he recalled a story about former F1 World Champion Jochen Rindt, who wanted Ecclestone to attend his honeymoon.

Also read: Michael Schumacher named his son Mick Schumacher after this Moto GP legend

Why was Bernie Ecclestone invited to Rindt’s honeymoon?

1970 F1 Champion Rindt, got married to his fashion-icon wife Nina in 1967. After their wedding, as most couples do, they headed off for their honeymoon. However, they also brought two people along with them which isn’t very common on the other hand.

“And they decided they ought to get married,” Ecclestone recalled in his documentary. “I was invited along with Tuana. The girl I was with at the time. They were on their honeymoon. Which I suppose is a bit unusual. I think basically it’s because Jochen and I could play Gin Rummy.”

Jochen Rindt was one of the top F1 drivers of his time. In 1970, he was driving for Lotus and ended up winning the World Championship for them but it was under tragic conditions. Four races before the end of the campaign, Rindt was at the end of a fatal crash in Monza.

Rindt suffered his fatal crash during a practice session. The Austrian lost control of his car on the world famous parabolica corner, and spun into the guardrails at a high speed. It took his life, but he had done enough to secure the Title, which he posthumously awarded.

Also read: Oscar Piastri after replacing Daniel Ricciardo takes him for a ride in his $310,000 McLaren

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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