By Nils Kottmann
Bernie Ecclestone (91) has had a close friendship with Vladimir Putin (69) for years – the fact that the Kremlin dictator started a war and killed countless civilians doesn’t seem to matter to the ex-Formula 1 boss.
“I would still take a bullet for him,” Ecclestone said of his pal Putin in a scandalous interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday. Because the Kremlin dictator is “a first-rate person” who only invaded Ukraine because she believed “it was the right thing for Russia.”
And the massacres of civilians by Russian soldiers in Bucha, Mariupol and countless other cities? “No intention,” claims Ecclestone – even though the burden of proof is overwhelming and war crimes have been part of Russian military strategy for decades.
Bernie Ecclestone was Formula 1 boss for more than 40 years Photo: dpa
Bizarre: For the ex-Formula 1 boss, the Ukraine war is a mistake that could have happened to anyone else – not just Kremlin dictator Putin. “Unfortunately, he resembles a businessman who, like me, makes mistakes from time to time. And if you make a mistake, you have to get out of it as best you can.”
Then Ecclestone suddenly accuses Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyj (44) of being to blame for Putin declaring war on him. Selenskyj, who used to be a comedian, “appears to want to continue working in this profession”. Because: If the Ukrainian President “had only made enough effort to talk to Putin – who is a reasonable person and would have listened – then something could have been done,” claims the 91-year-old.
Ecclestone makes no mention of the fact that Putin made the decision to invade months ago and that President Zelenskyj repeatedly invited the Kremlin dictator to negotiations. Instead, he holds on to his twisted worldview.
Moderator Kate Garraway wants to clarify again: “You think that this war could only have been prevented by Zelenskyj’s actions, but not by Putin?”
“Absolutely,” Ecclestone replies to the shocked moderator.
Formula 1 criticized its ex-boss immediately after the interview. Ecclestone’s statements are “in very clear contrast to the position of modern values of our sport”.
