Friday 21 November at 12:00 : Nov.21 (GMM) F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone's wife Slavica has confirmed she has filed for divorce

It emerged recently that 50-year-old Mrs Ecclestone, who married the British billionaire 24 years ago, moved out of their Kensington (UK) home while Bernie was in Brazil for the 2008 championship finale

Confirmation of their pending divorce is particularly significant, given the fact that - for tax reasons - most of Ecclestone's immense wealth is in the non-domiciled Slavica Ecclestone's name

"It is formally announced that Mrs Slavica Ecclestone has filed for divorce," a statement released by her PR agency Borkowski read

"Her legal representative is Liz Vernon at Clintons. Mrs Ecclestone has asked that her privacy and that of her children should be respected."nnBernie said the news surprised him

"Really?" he told the Daily Telegraph. "Oh ... we will see. I didn't even know she had a PR company. You hear of things -- I must find out."n