Top 5 most outrageous comments made by Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone is perhaps one of the most infamous personalities in the sporting world. The 93-year-old held a tight grip on Formula 1 for decades with some extremely controversial decisions under his reign. Ecclestone amassed a staggering wealth during his time as the F1 Supremo. The Briton is estimated to have a net worth of $3 Billion in 2024.

The 93-year-old had made his foray as an F1 team boss in 1972 after acquiring the Brabham F1 team. In 1978, the team produced one of the most advanced cars of its time, the BT46 or the ‘Fan Car.’ The car was miles ahead of its competition and could’ve easily bagged the two F1 titles that season. However, Bernie Ecclestone decided to withdraw the car from the championship to maintain good relations with other teams on the grid.

This decision allowed Ecclestone to become the Chief Executive of Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) that year. The 93-year-old had played a pivotal role in the formation of FOCA four years earlier. Moreover, the Briton solidified himself as the lead figure in the paddock in the coming years with FOCA even negotiating TV deals for the sport. He sold the Brabham team in 1988.

Over the next decades, Bernie Ecclestone continued to call the shots in F1 while securing subsequent Concorde Agreements with the teams. However, the 93-year-old remained a controversial figure in the paddock. Ecclestone had no filter during any press conferences and said whatever was on his mind. This gave a bad reputation to the F1 Supremo. Although, he remained unbothered about such an image.

Ecclestone was ousted from his chief role in F1 in 2017 by new owners Liberty Media. However, the Briton has continued to be in controversies including the recently published Epstein List and even tax fraud. Moreover, the 93-year-old has gone on to make further comments which could enrage fans. This article delves into the top 5 most outrageous comments made by Bernie Ecclestone.

Here are the Top 5 most outrageous comments made by Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone

5. ‘Would rather sell my daughter’

Bernie Ecclestone’s daughter Petra Ecclestone tied the knot in 2012 with businessman James Stunt. A grand ceremony was orchestrated in Lake Bracciano, Italy. The wedding took place at the Odescalchi Castle where the bride arrived in a vintage Rolls Royce. It is believed that the wedding cost upwards of $5 million at the time.

However, Ecclestone seemed to not be thrilled by his daughter’s wedding with James Stunt. The 93-year-old later admitted that he was not happy with Petra’s decision to marry the British businessman. So much so, that the former F1 Supremo reckoned that he would have rather sold her daughter than how he ‘gave her away’ to Stunt.

I had to do something at the time that upset me. I had to give her away. I’d rather have sold her.

Bernie Ecclestone told DailyMail

Petra Ecclestone and James Stunt parted ways a few years later in 2017. Stunt was accused of being the mastermind behind a $380 million money laundering scheme. Although he was declared not guilty.

4. ‘Women are like domestic appliances’

Motorsport has been a male-dominated field ever since its history. This has led to only a few women ever getting the chance to make their way up the racing ladder. American driver Danica Patrick made headlines in the 2000s as a potential female driver who could make it big.

In 2005, Patrick was delivering some impressive results in IndyCar. This event opened the conversation of her potentially racing in Formula 1. Subsequently, Bernie Ecclestone was asked about Danica Patrick’s performance at the 2005 United States GP.

The then-F1 Supremo gave a clear answer. Ecclestone shared his archaic and misogynistic mindset that women did not belong on track. Rather, the Briton wanted to keep women dressed in white as nothing more than a domestic appliance. Certainly, the 93-year-old’s words perhaps best describe the problems that female drivers face in junior categories.

You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas ... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances.

Bernie Ecclestone told ESPN

3. ‘I’d take a bullet for Vladimir Putin’

Russian President Vladimir Putin might be one of the most controversial personalities on the world stage. The 71-year-old has ruled Russia for over two decades with an iron fist. Bernie Ecclestone has shared a great friendship with Putin over the years which even led to Russia joining the F1 calendar for the first time in 2014.

However, after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Putin faced backlash globally with dozens of sanctions imposed on his country. The Russian GP was also removed from the F1 season. Nevertheless, Bernie Ecclestone continues to defend the Russian President.

The 93-year-old admitted that Vladimir Putin was simply a businessman like him who could sometimes make a few mistakes. Moreover, Ecclestone mentioned that Putin was a sensible leader who would’ve agreed with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy if the latter had tried to talk to the Russian President. So much so, that Bernie Ecclestone affirmed that he was ready to take a bullet for the 71-year-old.

I think if he’d [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] thought about things, he would definitely have made a big enough effort to speak to Putin, who is a sensible person, and would have listened to him and could have probably done something about it.

Bernie Ecclestone told Good Morning Britain

Although, Ecclestone later apologized for his comments after being criticized by many.

2. ‘Black people are more racist than white people’

F1 legend Lewis Hamilton has faced racism throughout his racing career. The British driver has been at the forefront of raising awareness against this huge problem in society. However, Bernie Ecclestone had a rather ignorant view on this issue. The 93-year-old defended Nelson Piquet Sr. when the Brazilian was accused of racist and homophobic comments on Hamilton.

Moreover, Ecclestone believed that black and white people might not the be same. The 93-year-old reckoned that sometimes black people were more racist than their white counterparts. These comments were met with a huge backlash from fans and Lewis Hamilton.

Well, what the hell. Somebody’s not the same as white people and black people should think the same thing about white people.’ In lots of cases, black people are more racist than what white people are.

Bernie Ecclestone told CNN

Although, Bernie Ecclestone expressed his doubts over any real concerns about racism within the F1 paddock. Nevertheless, Hamilton has continued to fight against racism and provide more opportunities to underserved communities.

1. ‘Hitler got things done’

Adolf Hitler was one of the most gruesome leaders in human history. The Austrian massacred millions of innocent people in the Holocaust. Hitler’s regime still remains one of the most frightening reminders of sheer brutality even today. However, Bernie Ecclestone seemed to have a rather different view of the Nazi leader.

In 2009, Ecclestone claimed that Adolf Hitler had been persuaded to do things. Moreover, the former F1 Supremo reckoned that at least the Nazi leader managed to hold a tight command of his people which led to work getting done efficiently. It seems that the 93-year-old was not concerned by the atrocities committed by Hitler’s regime.

Apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done.

Bernie Ecclestone told The Times

Certainly, F1 has gone in a completely different direction since Ecclestone’s departure. Perhaps, the Briton had too many controversial views which were visible in his decisions as the F1 Supremo. Nevertheless, the 93-year-old played a pivotal role in shaping the sport to what it is today.

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