Paddy McNally, former racing driver who became one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Formula 1, has died at the age of 88, after a long illness.
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His passing comes just two months after the sudden death of his son Sean McNally, who was found lifeless on his estate in Scotland, where he lived in isolation.
Beyond his past as a driver, McNally was best known for his role as a promoter and businessman in motorsport, as well as for his long-standing friendship with Bernie Ecclestone, of whom he was one of the closest collaborators in the commercial development of Formula 1.
In a relationship with Sarah Ferguson
His private life also attracted attention in the early 1980s due to his relationship with Sarah Ferguson. They met when Ferguson was hired to look after his two sons, Sean and Rollo, after the death of his wife.
Their relationship lasted from 1982 to 1985, before Sarah Ferguson met Prince Andrew, whom she would marry in 1986. After her separation from the Duke of York, Sarah Ferguson had also resided for a time in a chalet belonging to Paddy McNally in the heights of Verbier, Switzerland.
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According to a relative quoted by the Daily Mail, the former executive had been seriously ill for several months : “He had been in very poor health for some time.”
Creator of the Paddock Club
With the passing of Paddy McNally, Formula 1 loses a personality who largely contributed to shaping the modern image of the championship, both through his influence in the paddocks and his role in the commercial development of the discipline.
After his career as a gentleman driver, McNally became an F1 journalist for the prestigious magazine Autosport by building a valuable address book. In the mid-70s, he collaborated with several sponsors, including Philip Morris (Marlboro) and chemical giant ICI, to the point of suggesting to Ecclestone to create a dedicated space in the paddocks for team guests, a concept still relevant today.
This is how he founded the company Allsport Management to manage the Paddock Club, a spectacularly successful business that would make him a millionaire. For over 40 years, McNally reigned supreme over the commercial development of F1 until its resale to Liberty Media, an acquisition that included his multiple subsidiaries, including Allsport. RIP, Sir.
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