F1’s Ecclestone dismisses criticism in Hitler flap

  • By Rob Harris Associated Press
  • Monday, July 6, 2009 4:40pm
  • SportsSports

LONDON — Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone dismissed calls for his resignation Monday in the wake of his praise for Adolf Hitler.

Ecclestone, F1’s commercial rights holder, has come under fire from Jewish groups and British politicians following an interview published Saturday in The Times of London during which he said democracy wasn’t effective and singled out Hitler as a strong leader.

Among those who have expressed outrage over Ecclestone’s remarks is Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress. Lauder said someone with Ecclestone’s views should not be allowed to run such an important and popular racing series.

But Ecclestone said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that “I think the people who are saying that (I should resign) haven’t got the power to say these things.”

If the WJC is influential, he said, “it’s a pity they didn’t sort the banks out.” Asked to elaborate, Ecclestone said, “They have a lot of influence everywhere.”

As a result of Ecclestone’s earlier comments, the governor of Germany’s Baden-Wuerttemberg state, Guenther Oettinger, canceled their planned meeting at this weekend’s German Grand Prix.

Ecclestone said he was not aware of that.

“I think I’m due to be meeting him at 12 o’clock on Sunday — nobody has told me to the contrary,” he said.

Ecclestone said he had not intended to invoke Hitler’s name in the interview with the Times. He acknowledged that it “doesn’t help” that he is praising Hitler a little over a year since Max Mosley, president of F1’s governing body, took a British tabloid to court after being accused of being involved in a Nazi-themed sadomasochistic orgy.

Mosley, the son of the late Oswald Mosley, Britain’s best-known fascist politician in the 1930s, won the privacy suit. The judge in that case found no evidence that Mosley’s encounter with five women was intended to be an enactment of Nazi behavior.

“It’s probably my fault in that I got dragged into something I wasn’t supposed to discuss — we got out of F1 into something else,” Ecclestone said.

However, Ecclestone said he does not regret praising Hitler’s leadership “except as usual things were taken a little bit wrong.”

“Between ‘32 and ‘38 he took a country that was bankrupt and made it a reasonably strong power in Europe, but after that the guy obviously is a lunatic,” Ecclestone said.

Hitler’s regime, responsible for the Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews, is known to have opened concentration camps years before the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

“The trouble with politicians and democracy is they all the time have to compromise, they can’t do what they want to do because there is somebody in opposition. It certainly takes a lot longer to do something,” Ecclestone said.

“I regret that it didn’t come out like that, upsetting people is the last thing I wanted to do, obviously.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Cal Raleigh wins 2025 MLB Home Run Derby

Cal Raleigh called his shot years ago. In a childhood video spreading… Continue reading

Portland Fire unveil name, branding as WNBA’s 15th team

A flame is being reignited for Portland’s new WNBA franchise. On Tuesday,… Continue reading

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Jorge Polanco (7), right, of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his ninth inning home run with J.P. Crawford (3) while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners sweep Tigers on way to All-Star break

The Detroit Tigers still have the best record in baseball,… Continue reading

Mariners select LSU pitcher with No. 3 pick in MLB draft

College baseball’s best pitcher is coming to the Emerald City. The Seattle… Continue reading

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates winning championship point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Gentlemen's Singles Final on day 14 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. (Julian Finney / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Sinner conquers Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title

The vision of Jannik Sinner covered in sweat and… Continue reading

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.