Bernie Ecclestone's mother-in-law Aparecida Schunck 'kidnapped in Sao Paulo'

Kidnappers are reportedly demanding a £28m ransom for her return

Bernie Ecclestone walks through the paddock with his wife Fabiana Flosi. Ms Flosi's mother has reportedly been kidnapped (Getty)

The mother-in-law of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been kidnapped in Brazil, according to reports in local media.

Aparecida Schunck, 67, the mother of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi, 38, was taken in Sao Paulo on Friday evening, a report by the Veja news magazine claims.

The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of $36.5million (£28m), according to a translation of the report obtained by The Independent.

The ransom is believed to be the largest demanded by kidnappers in Brazilian history.

The news site GP Brazil said it would not publish any further details about the kidnapping in order to protect Ms Schunck.

Mr Ecclestone, who married Ms Flosi in 2012, is worth an estimated $3.1bn (£2.3bn). His spokesperson declined to comment on the report.