Bernie Ecclestone's pilot 'arrested over kidnapping of F1 supremo's mother-in-law'

A helicopter pilot employed by Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly been arrested over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of the businessman's mother-in-law.

Aparecida Schunck was captured by the criminals from her Sao Paulo home on July 22.

The 67-year-old, who is the mother of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi, was freed unhurt at the weekend following a local police operation.

The kidnappers demanded a $36.5m (£28m) ransom, but it was not paid, and now BBC News reports that pilot Jorge Euricio da Silva Faria, who works for 85-year-old Ecclestone, has been detained by police on suspicion of masterminding the attack.

Ecclestone married his 38-year-old partner Flosi in 2012.