This is a conflict that has been brewing for several years already, but no one imagined that a war would break out in such an abrupt manner. For several days now, Russian troops have entered Ukraine and the whole world is on alert. In the field of sport, several stars have already spoken on the issue, and there are already the first deaths in the ranks of Ukrainian athletes. For now, most countries condemn the action of the Russian government and its president, Vladimir Poutine.
A unanimous position, except perhaps for one man, the former boss of Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone. The 91-year-old man was the rain and the sun for a long time in the most prestigious sporting competition in the world until 2017. Interviewed on British radio Times Radio, the one who became a father for the 4th time at 89 wanted to give his opinion on Vladimir Putin. “He is a very direct person and an honorable man, he does exactly what he said he had to do, without any discussion”he says.
How can we judge what is happening? Maybe there are people who think Russia is right
A position that goes against the grain of everything we can currently hear about the Russian president. Bernie Ecclestone did not stop there and categorically refuses to condemn Russia’s actions. “It’s up to the people involved in the event to decide. How can we judge what is happening? Maybe there are people who think Russia is right.”, he continues. Close to the Kremlin during his tenure as F1 boss, the Englishman participated in the creation of the Sochi Grand Prix in Russia in 2012. A Grand Prix canceled for the coming season. A decision on which he reconsidered: “It’s the F1 teams and promoters, not the drivers who have to make the decision”.
Unexpected support for Vladimir Putin, who sees the former Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, supporting him in this period when most countries are rightly taking sanctions against Russia.