Formula 1 has moved to criticise Bernie Ecclestone for controversial comments he made during an interview on British television on Thursday morning. Speaking to ITV programme Good Morning Britain , Ecclestone described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "first-class" person, whom he "would take a bullet for". The 91-year-old also defended Nelson Piquet after the former F1 driver used a racial slur when speaking about Lewis Hamilton.
Ecclestone "would take a bullet" for Putin
Putin has faced worldwide condemnation since Russia launched an invasion on neighbouring Ukraine in February. Asked about his relationship with Putin, and whether they remain friends, Ecclestone said: "I would still take a bullet for him. "He is a first-class person and what he's doing is something that hebelieved was the right thing he was doing for Russia. "Unfortunately, he's like a lot of business people, he's certainly like me… Wemake mistakes from time to time, and when you've made the mistake you have todo the best that you can to get out of it."
Ecclestone "surprised" by Hamilton not "brushing it aside"
As for how Ecclestone views Piquet's comments about Hamilton, the former F1 supremo came to the Brazilian's defence. "I don't know what you can do about stopping people saying somethingthat, at the time, would appear to be appropriate to them, and may not be inreality," said Ecclestone. "You can't start making rules of what people can say and can't say, andI don't know what sort of reaction he is expecting." Ecclestone added he is "surprised" that Hamilton hasn't "brushed it aside".
F1 issue statement over Ecclestone's comments
In response, F1 issued a short statement condemning Ecclestone's remarks. "The comments made by Bernie Ecclestone are his personal views and are in very stark contrast to position of the modern values of our sport," read the statement. Ecclestone was removed from his position as CEO of Formula 1 in January 2017 following Liberty Media's takeover of the sport. Earlier this year, he was arrested in Brazil for illegally carrying a gun.
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