Bernie Ecclestone of Formula One ripped for controversial remarks

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone faced criticism from politicians and Jewish groups Saturday after being quoted as saying that Adolf Hitler "got things done."

Ecclestone denies praising Hitler

• 'Many of my closest friends are Jews,' says Ecclestone• Jewish official wants boycott of F1 commercial rights holderThe Formula One commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, says that there has been a "big misunderstanding" over his comments about Hitler, which were published in the press over the weekend.Ecclestone had said that Hitler was a "man who could get things done" during an interview in which he expressed strong views on dictators, and his comments were met with widespread negative reaction, particularly from the Jewish community. He now insists that he never meant to hurt anybody and added: "Many of my closest friends are Jews."Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Ecclestone said: "This was all a big misunderstanding." He added: "I did not put Hitler forward as a positive example, but simply noted that, before his appalling crimes, he acted successfully against unemployment and the economic crisis." Ecclestone claimed that it was never his intention to "hurt the feelings of a community ... many of my closest friends are Jews."Jewish groups worldwide have called on Ecclestone to resign, and he faces further trouble this Sunday at the German grand prix at the Nürburgring circuit. Günther Oettinger, the governor of Baden-Wuerttemberg state, had planned to meet Ecclestone. However, his regional government's spokesman, Christoph Dahl, said Oettinger decided at the weekend to cancel the meeting after the comments were published.A senior German Jewish official was quoted by the Handelsblatt daily as calling for a boycott of Ecclestone by Formula One teams. "No team should work with him any more," said Dieter Graumann, a vice-president of the Central Council of Jews. "A boycott would now be more than appropriate."Bernie EcclestoneFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Ecclestone calls Hitler remarks 'misunderstanding'

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone views the furor over his reported comment that Adolf Hitler got "things done" as a misunderstanding, according to an interview with a German newspaper published Monday.

Ecclestone sorry for Hitler remarks

• 'I'm just sorry I was an idiot,' Ecclestone tells Jewish Chronicle• Remarks had triggered calls for rights holder to resignBernie Ecclestone, the billionaire Formula One commercial rights holder, has offered an unreserved apology for his controversial remarks suggesting that dictators like Adolf Hitler "got things done". The remarks, which were made in a newspaper interview last Saturday, have caused a storm of protest in the run-up to Sunday's German grand prix at the Nürburgring.In an interview with the Jewish Chronicle, conducted at his Knightsbridge business headquarters, Ecclestone said: "I'm just sorry I was an idiot. I sincerely, genuinely apologise."Ecclestone's remarks triggered a call from the president of the World Jewish congress, Ronald Lauder, for his resignation from his position as the most influential man in international motor racing.A senior German Jewish official called for Ecclestone to be boycotted by Formula One teams. Dieter Grauman, a vice president of the Central Council of Jews, said: "No team should work with him any more."Ecclestone made it clear that he regretted the entire episode. "What I regret is people who have taken this the wrong way and who have been offended," he said. "I am really, really sad about that because I have done an awful lot for the Jewish community through charities and whatever."Bernie EcclestoneFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

German cancels Ecclestone meeting

• Bernie Ecclestone controversy leads to summit cancellation• 'I did not put Hitler up as a good example'Bernie Ecclestone was at the centre of yet another Formula One controversy last night as a German politician cancelled a meeting scheduled this weekend to discuss the future of the country's round of the world championship after his recent observations about Adolf Hitler.Günther Oettinger, the prime minister of Baden-Württemberg where the Hockenheim circuit is situated, was due to meet Formula One's commercial rights holder at this weekend's German grand prix at the Nürburgring, to discuss whether to continue alternating the race between the two circuits.Yesterday, however, Oettinger made it clear that he would not be meeting Ecclestone after his comments about Hitler, which were published over the weekend, saying that at least dictators like him got things done. His comments attracted widespread condemnation from politicians and Jewish groups across Europe.Ecclestone made an effort to clarify his remarks in an interview with the newspaper Bild, although it stopped short of a retraction or apology. "I did not put Hitler up as a good example‚" Ecclestone was quoted as saying. "But [I] simply pointed out that before his terrible crimes, he had acted successfully against unemployment and the economic crash."It is notable that Ecclestone's comments should have been made in the run-up to a Formula One grand prix at the Nürburgring. The current track is built on the edge of the old 14-mile circuit, which was originally constructed as a test track for the Nazi-backed German car industry in a bid to reduce unemployment in the Eifel region during the early 1930s.Yet it is a measure of Ecclestone's influence within Formula One that not one of the teams was prepared to make any critical comment about his outburst. Behind the scenes, and off the record, there was no concealing the teams' exasperation that the sport is left mired in another public relations drama only a week after the FIA president Max Mosley's unseemly vacillations over whether he would stand for re-election again in October – or indeed whether there is a potential peace treaty between the governing body and the eight members of the Formula One Teams Association.The former world rally champion Ari Vatanen last night emerged as a possible contender to challenge Mosley if the Briton did seeks re-election to the FIA presidency."At the moment I am consulting the member clubs and am already seeing positive feedback," said the 57-year-old Finn, a four-times Dakar Rally winner. "I am considering standing. I think the time has come for a change. I would go for it, even if not sure of winning."Meanwhile, there is continued dispute over whether the Formula One teams new to next year's world championship were told by the FIA that a condition of their entry was that they had to race with Cosworth engines.While not confirming that this was strictly the case, an FIA spokesman reportedly stated that the availability of an independent supply of Formula One engines for new teams was a priority otherwise "the whole grid would be at the mercy of the car industry and no new team would be able to enter without their permission".Bernie EcclestoneFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Ecclestone pulls out of GP event

• F1 shareholder CVC 'shocked' by Ecclestone's remarks• Speculation surrounds attendance at German grand prixBernie Ecclestone has pulled out of an appearance at the opening of a leisure centre at the Nürburgring – location for this weekend's German grand prix – as the furore over his remarks about Adolf Hitler refuses to abate.A spokesman said simply that the Formula One figurehead had cancelled his visit. It is not known whether Ecclestone will be attending the race this weekend, but his position has been hit further by a statement from CVC, the private equity group that owns the commercial rights to Formula One, expressing "shock" at comments made by the 78-year-old.CVC is known to look after investments for a number of Jewish funds. The company bought out Ecclestone for a reported $1bn in 2005, though in practice Ecclestone, who retains a shareholding in the sport, still oversees day-to-day control of its administration."CVC was shocked at the comments made by Bernie Ecclestone on Saturday," the firm said. "And we fully concur with the unreserved apology that was made by Mr Ecclestone yesterday."In an interview, Ecclestone described Hitler as a man who "got things done". He later expressed his regret, saying: "I am extremely distressed and embarrassed that these remarks have been used as suggesting I support Hitler or Saddam Hussein. I would never support such people."Bernie EcclestoneFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds