Former F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone expecting fourth child at age 89

Bernie Ecclestone's current wife Fabiana is 43 and said the pair have a simple hope for the child. Photo / Twitter.

Former F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone is set to become a father for the fourth time with news his wife is set to give birth to his first son.

The 89-year-old billionaire will turn 90 soon after his son's birth.

Currently in Brazil self isolating on his farm north of Sao Paulo, Ecclestone confirmed the news to German newspaper Blick.

"Yes, it is due in the summer," he confirmed. "Hopefully he'll learn to play backgammon soon."

Ecclestone's eldest daughter Deborah is 65 and was born to his first wife Ivy Bamford, while his other two daughters Tamara (35) and Petra (31) were born to his second wife Slavica Radic.

His current wife Fabiana is currently 43 and said the pair have a simple hope for the child.

"Like all parents we have only one wish: the child must be born healthy," she said. "Hopefully he will never express any interest in doing something in Formula 1."

Ecclestone then had to make it weird, adding: "After my Formula 1 time, we've had plenty of time to practice.

"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."

While the rest of the children hadn't broken their silence on the baby news, Tamara was vocal regarding the wedding and why she and her sister avoided the nuptials.

"I was quite surprised. He's usually such a rational person and this seems like such an irrational thing to do," she said at the time.

"My first thought was for my mum. She wouldn't have known and she hasn't dated since the divorce.

"If I was my dad I would have thought, 'OK, been there, done it, got the T-shirt. I've met someone, I'll just live with them'."

At 89, Bernie Ecclestone is a great grandfather, meaning that the son he's having with his wife, Brazilian marketing director Fabiana Flosi, this July in Sao Paolo, will be a great-uncle the moment he is born. Happy Friday!

— Camilla Long (@camillalong) April 3, 2020

Last year, Tamara made headlines when she was robbed of $97 million in jewellery during the Christmas holidays.

Ecclestone, the former F1 boss, also said there was little hope of the F1 continuing this season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Today what would I do? I think I'd have to say we're going to close down talk of having any races this year," he said. "That's the only thing you could do safely for everybody so nobody starts making silly arrangements which may not be able to happen."

Asked whether that meant effectively wiping out the season and saying there would not be any races and focus on 2021, he agreed.

"Which is what they had to do for the Olympics of course. It's unfortunate but that's how it is," added Ecclestone.

F1 has said it hopes to run a reduced season of 15-18 races, starting sometime in the summer, but Ecclestone – who drew up the calendar for decades until he was ousted in 2017 – was pessimistic about the chances of that happening.