Bernie Ecclestone

Formula 1 has said that comments made by former grand prix supremo Bernie Ecclestone defending Vladimir Putin are in 'very stark contrast' to the values of ...

The statement said: “The comments made by Bernie Ecclestone are his personal views and are in very stark contrast to position of the modern values of the sport.” The risk of some perceiving Ecclestone’s remarks to be in-line with thinking of current F1 figures prompted the category to issue a statement making it clear his views could not be further from those held by the current F1 chiefs. “Unfortunately he's like a lot of business people, certainly like me, that we make mistakes from time to time and when you make the mistake, you have to do the best you can to get out of it.”

Formula 1 says comments by the sport's former boss Bernie Ecclestone on Vladimir Putin and racism are in "stark contrast" to "modern values".

If I'd have heard it, I'd have been able to deal with it myself without too much trouble." Many sports banned Russian participation in or staging of events, and F1 cancelled the contract for the Russian GP. I'm quite sure people have made remarks about that. Ecclestone added that he was "not sure" he would have made the same decision. He said he had not spoken to the Russian president since the invasion was launched in February, but added: "I'm absolutely sure he now wishes he didn't start this whole business, but it didn't start as a war." When it was put to him that he could not justify the actions of Putin and the deaths of thousands of people, he answered: "I don't. It wasn't intentional."

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has defended Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, saying he would "take a bullet" for the Russian President, ...

But he's now come out and Nelson has apologised so everyone should be happy." Ecclestone said: "Nelson would never go out of his way to say anything bad, certainly. "I'm surprised Lewis hasn't just brushed it aside. If I'd have heard it, I'd have been able to deal with it myself without too much trouble. "Well it's probably not appropriate with us. "He probably thinks lots of things he says which might upset us or might feel a little bit offensive....

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, 91, told stunned Good Morning Britain hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard that he would 'still take a bullet' for the ...

What do you make of those comments?" frankly, Kate handled the interview very well on GMB." "That was a Formula 1 car crash," McCoy pointed out.

The 91-year-old said the war in Ukraine was not “intentional” and could have been avoided by actions taken by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr ...

He said: “I’m not in the position now to have done anything about that. Mr Ecclestone was asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain if he still regards Mr Putin as a friend, and he replied: “I’d still take a bullet for him. “So that’s probably what his problem was. he probably exploded then and sort of carried that forward. “Unfortunately, he’s like a lot of business people, certainly like me, we make mistakes from time to time. He probably doesn’t need reminding.

British billionaire and former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “first-class person” in a TV interview on Thursday, ...

Thursday’s remarks are not the first time that the controversial former F1 chief has expressed positive sentiment regarding Putin or Russia. Earlier this year he criticized F1’s leadership for canceling the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, saying the move did not make sense and the cancellation would have no effect on Putin. In 2016, he had hailed the Russian President as a man who gets things done and even said Putin should be “running Europe.” Putin isn’t the only autocrat Ecclestone has expressed admiration for. Just like Ecclestone in the West, very few billionaires and oligarchs in Russia have broken ranks with their group’s consensus on Putin and the war in Ukraine. Despite this, some Russian business tycoons like Oleg Tinkov, Alexei Mordashov, Oleg Deripaska and Mikhail Fridman have spoken up. Banking tycoon and former billionaire Oleg Tinkov has been the most vocal critic of Putin’s “ crazy war” and has claimed he was forced by the Kremlin to sell his stake in Russia’s second-largest bank without any opportunity to negotiate.

Formula 1's Bernie Ecclestone has said he would "take a bullet" for Vladimir Putin, while criticizing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier, the 91-year-old former CEO of the Formula One Group, who has previously spent time with Putin, said the Russian leader was doing “something he believed was the right thing for Russia” when invading Ukraine, although he countered “like a lot of business people we make a mistake from time to time.”

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said he would "take a bullet" for Russian President Vladimir Putin and described him as "a first-class ...

He said: "I'm not in the position now to have done anything about that. Ecclestone was asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain if he still regards Putin as a friend, and he replied: "I'd still take a bullet for him. "So that's probably what his problem was. he probably exploded then and sort of carried that forward. "Unfortunately, he's like a lot of business people, certainly like me, we make mistakes from time to time. They shouldn't be punished."

Former F1 chief calls Russian president 'first-class person' in GMB interview and blames war on Zelenskiy.

I’m absolutely sure he now wishes he hadn’t have started this whole business, but [it] didn’t start as a war.” I’d rather it didn’t hurt, but if it does I’d still take a bullet, because he’s a first-class person. He probably doesn’t need reminding.

The 91-year-old Ecclestone also told "Good Morning Britain" Thursday he's "surprised" Lewis Hamilton hasn't "brushed aside" a racial slur used toward him by ...

Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect.” “This is a man [Putin] who has perpetrated an appalling war involving the systematic rape of women, the targeting of civilians in shopping centers,” Truss said, adding, “Clearly Vladimir Putin is toxic, the prime minister [Boris Johnson] is right to say that. “I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin color. The comments came to light because the British Grand Prix is this weekend. Two years later, Ecclestone was criticized for calling Putin “the guy who should run Europe.” Since then, he has made headlines for provocative comments about social and political matters. Ecclestone said he has not spoken with Putin said the invasion began.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said he would "take a bullet" for Vladimir Putin and called the Russian President a "first-class person."

If I'd have heard it, I'd have been able to deal with it myself without too much trouble." The British billionaire is no stranger to controversy. I'd rather it didn't hurt, but I would still take a bullet." Nearly five months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the conflict continues. "The other person in Ukraine ... his profession I understand, he used to be a comedian -- and I think it seems that he wants to continue that profession," he said. "Unfortunately, he's like a lot of businesspeople, certainly like me, that we make mistakes from time to time and when you make the mistake, you have to do the best you can to get out of it."

Former Formula One supremo Ecclestone has described the Russian president as "a first-class person".

He said: "I'm not in the position now to have done anything about that. "So that's probably what his problem was. he probably exploded then and sort of carried that forward. Mr Ecclestone was asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain if he still regards Mr Putin as a friend, and he replied: "I'd still take a bullet for him. They shouldn't be punished." He probably doesn't need reminding.