Ecclestone, sensational words on Putin: F1 disassociates itself

Former circus patron Ecclestone insists, “I would still take a bullet for him.”

Former Formula 1 circus patron Bernie Ecclestone in an interview with ITV returned to defend Russian President Vladimir Putin: “I would still take a bullet for him, because he is a first-class person and what he is doing he did because he believes it is the right thing for Russia. Unfortunately like many people who do business, certainly like me, we make mistakes from time to time. And when you make mistakes you look for the best way to get out of them.”

Ecclestone also attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj without naming him: “If he had thought about the situation he would have made a much bigger effort to talk to Putin, who is a sensitive person, and he would have listened to him and probably would have something about it.”

Sensational words, with which Formula 1 immediately disassociated itself: “These are his personal opinions, which are in stark contrast to the position of the modern values of our sport.”