F1 News: Bernie Ecclestone Apologises After Uproar Over Putin Comments
Ex-F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has apologised after some very controversial comments that supported Russian President Vladimir Putin as the country continues to attack Ukraine.
Talking to ITV Good Morning Britain, the 91-year-old admitted he’d “take a bullet” for the Russian President, telling viewers that he believes he was “a good guy”. Despite an outcry from F1 fans, Ecclestone repeated his sentiment a few days later in an interview with Piers Morgan.
The Russian Grand Prix joined the F1 in 2014 where Eccelstone and Putin quickly gained mutual rapport, but after the country’s attack on Ukraine, the Russian GP was removed from the calendar for good.
The Formula One Group eventually got involved, telling its followers that Ecclestone’s opinions were “in stark contrast to modern values”. Following this, Ecclestone has now apologised.
“Probably good for me to get some things off my chest as well, some things that have been bothering me about what I said and about what people think I said,” Ecclestone said.
“So I think often people come out and say things or do things, without really too much thinking.
“Probably I did the same, I could understand people thinking I’m defending what he’s done in Ukraine, which I don’t.
“I was brought up during the last war so I know what it’s like,” he revealed.
“I feel sorry for the people in Ukraine having suffer for something they haven’t done.”
He finished, telling fans how he hopes Russia and Ukraine will be able to “get together and get an agreement”, adding that he is “sorry if anything I’ve said has upset anybody because it certainly wasn’t intended”.