Ayrton Senna producer to deliver Bernie Ecclestone documentary series

Bernie Ecclestone

Senna producer to deliver Ecclestone documentary series

Ecclestone has given his blessing to eight-episode programme

Ian Parkes

Thursday 1 July 2021 10:27 Updated: 10:52

Bernie Ecclestone has given his blessing to an eight-part documentary detailing his life and times as F1's former supremo.

Entitled 'Lucky', the series is being developed by Manish Pandey, the writer and executive producer of the BAFTA-winning documentary 'Senna.'

Ecclestone spent 43 years in charge of F1 prior to the takeover of the sport by Liberty Media in January 2017.

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Pandey has been given exclusive rights by Ecclestone to develop the programme, while also granted unprecedented access to tens of thousands of hours of archive footage from Formula 1 Management.

“This is the first time I’ve trusted anyone to tell my story and the story of Formula 1 and Manish is the only storyteller and director who I believe can bring these to the screen," said 90-year-old Ecclestone.

"And he isn’t just a great storyteller, he’s also a great fan. He’s been watching Formula 1 since he could walk and his knowledge of the world and its movers and shakers is encyclopaedic and his passion unsurpassed.”

Although no official date for the release of the series has been revealed, it is anticipated to air in the summer of next year.

Pandey said: “Bernie has been able to reflect, not just on his days as one of the greatest sporting impresarios of all time, but also on his life.

"In his 90 years, he has travelled the world and met everyone who is anyone, yet he remains incredibly personable and immensely funny. It is a joy to tell his extraordinary story, in full, for the first time."

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali believes Ecclestone's story is one worth telling given the legacy he has left on the sport.

“Formula 1 is a truly global sport with over 70 years of history created by Bernie that has a huge part of making the sport what it is,” said Domenicali.

"With half a billion global fans and races in 23 countries the interest and excitement around Formula 1 is huge and there will be eager anticipation for this series that will take the viewers on a journey into the life of one of the sport’s most interesting characters.”