Bernie Ecclestone has mentioned he’d “take a bullet” for Vladimir Putin throughout a controversial interview on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain.
The previous F1 boss described the Russian chief as a “top quality individual” throughout a dialogue in regards to the battle in Ukraine with hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway.
Bernie and Putin’s friendship reportedly blossomed after the pair had been launched on the Russian Grand Prix in 2014.
“I’d nonetheless take a bullet for him,” Bernie mentioned of the Russian president after Kate requested if he nonetheless regarded him as a good friend.
“I’d fairly it didn’t damage, but when it did I’d nonetheless take a bullet for him.
“He’s a first-class individual. What he’s doing is one thing he believed is the correct factor he was doing for Russia. Sadly, he’s like numerous enterprise folks, like me, we make errors every so often.”
The 91-year-old then mentioned the Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I believe if he’d considered issues, he would have made a sufficiently big effort to talk to Mr Putin, who’s a smart individual and would have listened to him and doubtless would have carried out one thing about it,” he mentioned.
A clearly shocked Ben then interrupted, telling the businessman “you possibly can’t say that”, earlier than reminding him that Putin began the battle in Ukraine which has led to the deaths of 1000’s of harmless folks.
“It wasn’t intentional,’ Bernie replied. “Take a look at the variety of instances America has moved into totally different international locations that has nothing to do with America… they like wars as a result of they promote numerous armour so it’s good for them.”
Shocked viewers shortly took to Twitter to share their disbelief over Bernie’s feedback…
This isn’t the primary time Bernie has voiced his assist of Putin. Earlier this yr, he defended the Russian chief once more, describing him as “very simple and honourable” throughout an interview on Instances Radio.
And in 2019, Bernie instructed The Instances that he’d wish to see Putin “operating Europe”.
“He’s man” he mentioned. “He’s by no means carried out something that isn’t doing good issues for folks.”
In the identical interview, Bernie additionally excused Nelson Piquet’s racist slur in opposition to Lewis Hamilton.
“I’ve recognized Nelson for an terrible very long time,” he mentioned. “I used to be with him a few weeks in the past. It’s not the form of factor Nelson would say that means one thing unhealthy.
“I’m stunned Lewis hasn’t simply brushed it apart. Or, higher than that, replied. However he’s now come out and Nelson has apologised.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
