Former Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, has said that he would "still take a bullet" for Russian President Vladimir Putin. During an appearance on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Ecclestone, 91, said: “I’d still take a bullet for him. He’s a first class person and what he’s doing is something he believes is the right thing for Russia. Unfortunately, he’s like a lot of business people, we make mistakes from time to time.”
He continued: "I mean, the other person in Ukraine, I mean his profession I understand, he used to be a comedian and it seems he wants to continue that profession because I think if he had thought about things and made a big enough effort to speak to Mr Putin, who is a sensible person and would have listened to him and could have probably done something about it."
Ecclestone appeared live on the ITV breakfast show from Ibiza. His comments haven't gone down well with viewers, with one person writing: "OMG this Bernie Ecclestone interview is so uncomfortable to watch."
Another said: "What an absolute shambles this is from Bernie Ecclestone. Flaming hell. What a small minded idiot."
Meanwhile, someone else commented: "Absolutely astonishing to hear Bernie Ecclestone defending Vladimir Putin on GMB just now. Absolute insanity."
Presenters Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway were visibly shocked by Ecclestone's comments. Ben said: "Bernie, what we have are the actions of Putin and the war that he started in Ukraine has led to the death of thousands ok innocent Ukrainians, you can't justify that surely?"
Ecclestone replied: "It wasn't intentional," as he explained his reasoning for Putin's actions, before adding: "Look at the times America has moved into different countries which is nothing to do with America."
The controversial comments didn't stop there, as elsewhere in the interview, Ecclestone said that says Nelson Piquet’s comments about Lewis Hamilton were not meant as racist. Piquet used a racially offensive term in referring to Hamilton on a Brazilian podcast that came to light this week.
He compared the use of a racial slur made by Piquet, to being called “overweight or undersized” and said “I’m surprised Lewis hasn’t brushed it aside.”
Were you surprised by Bernie Ecclestone's comments on Good Morning Britain? Let us know in the comments
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