Bernie Ecclestone, 89, becomes a father for the fourth time
Bernie Ecclestone, 89, becomes a father for the fourth time as his wife Fabiana Flosi, 44, gives birth to baby boy Ace
- The Formula One boss’ wife Fabiana Flosi has given birth to a boy named Ace
- Bernie is already father to Deborah, 65, and Tamara, 35, and Petra, 31
- Bernie married Fabiana in 2012 following his divorce from Slavica Radic
- The couple confirmed they were expecting a baby together in April
- Following the arrival of baby Ace Bernie said he was ‘so proud’ to be a dad again
- Fabiana said she had an ‘easy’ labour that was over in 25 minutes
By Charlotte Dean For Mailonline
Published: 15:03 EDT, 1 July 2020 | Updated: 16:13 EDT, 1 July 2020
Bernie Ecclestone has become a father for the fourth time aged 89.
The Formula One boss’ wife Fabiana Flosi, 44, has given birth to a little boy named Ace, after the couple announced they were expecting a baby in April.
Bernie has confirmed the birth to Swiss German news organisation Blick, saying: ‘We have a son named Ace. I am so proud.’
Happy news! Bernie Ecclestone has become a father for the fourth time aged 89
Revealing that she enjoyed an easy labour, Fabiana added: ‘It was all so easy. The birth was over after 25 minutes. I thank god.’
The new addition, who has been born not long before his 90th birthday in October, is his fourth child after his three daughters.
His eldest, Deborah, 65, was born to his first wife Ivy Bamford before he welcomed socialites Tamara, 35, and Petra, 31, with his second wife Slavica Radic.
‘Yes, it is due in the summer,’ Bernie told Blick earlier this year. ‘Hopefully he’ll learn to play backgammon soon!’
Baby boy! The Formula One boss’ wife Fabiana Flosi has given birth to a little boy named Ace, after the couple confirmed they were expecting a baby in April
Family: Bernie is already father to daughters Tamara, 35, and Petra, 31 (pictured) as well as his eldest child Deborah, 65
The former Formula 1 mogul married marketing director Fabiana in 2012 – three years after he divorced Croatian model Slavica.
The expectant parents met through the World Motor Sport Council, where she regularly attended meetings.
They knew each other professionally for a few years before a mutual friend invited Fabiana on a cruise around Croatia with Bernie and others in 2009.
So proud! Bernie has confirmed the news to Swiss German news organisation Blick , saying: ‘We have a son named Ace. I am so proud’
Fabian recently told the Daily Mail: ‘Like all parents, we have only one wish: the child must be born healthy. ‘Hopefully he will never express the intention to do something with Formula 1.’
Bernie added: ‘After my Formula 1 time, we’ve had plenty of time to practice!’
He went on to speak about the current coronavirus pandemic, and said he ‘just wants everything to be good with Fabiana’ should the isolation go on longer.
‘Fortunately the farm never runs out of work,’ he added. ‘Fabiana also looks after her own coffee plantation.’
‘I’m very happy for my wife. She’s been looking forward to this happening for quite a few years, so I’m happy she’ll have someone after I’m gone. It’s fun, I’ve got grandchildren and I’m looking forward to having another baby.’
When asked about his fears of Fabiana being pregnant in the midst of the pandemic, Bernie told MailOnline in April: ‘You hope it’s not going to happen but these things do happen so you just have to cope, what else can you do?
Adding to the brood! The new addition, who has been born not long before his 90th birthday in October, is his fourth child after his three daughters
‘You have to hope that the people who are looking after everything have not caught anything themselves.
Bernie and his wife spent the beginning of lockdown at his farm near Sao Paul, Brazil, and then travelled to Switzerland.
Bernie – dubbed ‘F1 Supremo’ – is a former chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, which manages Formula 1 and part-owns Delta Topco.
He entered two Grand Prix races as a driver himself in 1958, but ultimately failed to qualify for either of them.
The former F1 boss later became the manager of drivers Stuart Lewis-Evans and Jochen Rindt before he purchased the Brabham team in 1972, which he went on to lead for 15 years.
Daughter: Bernie’s daughter Petra announced last month that she had given birth to her first child with fiance Sam Palmer, 37
Bernie’s daughter Petra announced last month that she had given birth to her first child with fiance Sam Palmer, 37.
She is already mother to daughter Lavinia, seven, and five-year-old twin sons James and Andrew with ex-husband James Stunt, whom she divorced in 2017.
Tamara – who is married to art mogul Jay Rutland, 38, with whom she has a six-year-old daughter called Sophia – said she was ‘absolutely thrilled’ for her father.
After being told that her father was set to welcome another child, Tamara told the Mail On Sunday that she was ‘surprised but not totally blindsided.
Not a shock! After being told that her father was set to welcome another child, Tamara told the Mail On Sunday that she was ‘surprised but not totally blindsided (pictured in 2017)
Tamara, who revealed they were told over a family lunch, said: ‘We had no idea what was going on. We just thought we were meeting Dad and Fabi for a meal. We were in the middle of eating when Fabiana told us.
‘My husband missed it. he was like, ‘hold on a minute, what’s going on? Have I missed something?’
‘Always keen to treat his offspring equally, Bernie immediately called his youngest daughter, Petra, who was pregnant with her fourth child and living in Los Angeles.
‘He wanted us all to know at the same time,’ said Tamara ‘It was all done very diplomatically.’
One member of the family who had already guessed, though, was Tamara’s own daughter Fifi, who predicted she would be getting a new aunt or uncle in the near future, ‘because that’s what married couples do’.
‘Fifi had said to Fabiana: ‘have you got a baby in your tummy?’. Fabiana replied, saying: ‘Maybe one day, who knows what will happen.’ But she was pregnant.
‘It goes without saying that it’s an unusual family situation
Three of his five grandchildren are girls, too. Tamara said: ‘My sister has two boys but this will be Dad’s first – so you can imagine how excited he is. It’s going to be very different for him, you know. He is used to being surrounded by women so this will be a big change. I guess it starts to even things out a bit for him.’
Tamara has already bought lots of gifts ready for her new brother and hoped to arrange a baby shower for her stepmother, who is just eight years her senior.
‘I just love organising anything,’ she enthuses. Indeed, she has plenty of time on her hands, being locked down in her 57-room home on one of the country’s most expensive streets, backing on to Kensington Gardens.
