F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone rubbishes Russia sanctions after defending Putin

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has lashed out at the sport’s punishment of Russia after previously praising Vladimir Putin.

Bernie Ecclestone is a Putin fan.

The decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “does not make sense”, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says.

The race scheduled for September 25 in Sochi — the final year the city was due to host the event before it moves to Saint Petersburg — was cancelled by F1 bosses last Friday.

Ecclestone, who over several decades transformed the sport into a global multibillion-dollar commercial giant, said he did not understand how the FIA reached its decision.

Ecclestone was pivotal to F1 heading to Russia, with the Black Sea resort of Sochi first hosting the race in 2014.

“It does not make sense whichever way you look at,” he told AFP. “There is no war in Russia to my knowledge so if it took place it would make no difference to anybody.

“It would not affect anyone at all.

“This idea of trying to punish Russia this way in a sporting sense is not going to punish (Russian President Vladimir) Putin at all.”

Ecclestone, 91, said losing the Russian Grand Prix for this year was just a gesture and one that will do nothing to change Putin’s mind.

“The race would not matter to him (Putin) or affect him adversely,” said Ecclestone. “What is he going to do, stop the invasion?

“It is all ridiculous, all these things they keep threatening to do. ‘Oh we must do something to help’ but they don’t do anything but talk, as there is nothing anyone can do.”

Ecclestone’s latest remarks come after he defended Putin last month.

“As a person I found him very straightforward and honourable,” Ecclestone told Times Radio. “He did exactly what he said he was going to do without any arguments.

“I suppose it is the people who are engaged in the event who would decide on it, because maybe other people think it was the right thing for Russia to do.

“So how can anyone else judge exactly what is happening today?”

Bernie Ecclestone doesn’t think Russia should be stripped of its grand prix. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Ecclestone has previously expressed his admiration for Putin in 2019, saying: “If someone had a machine gun and was prepared to shoot Putin, I would stand in front of him because he’s a good guy.

“He’s never done anything that isn’t doing good things for people.”

And in 2017, Ecclestone said: “Honestly, I think the guy should rule Europe. Mr Putin has impressed me more than anyone because he’s a guy who says he’s going to do something and does it.

“He’s a first class person.”

The sporting world has punished Russia heavily since Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine. Saint Petersburg lost the right to host European club football’s showpiece Champions League final and the men’s Volleyball World Championships has also been taken away from Russia.

Russia has also been expelled from the 2022 Football World Cup — they were in the qualifying play-offs — and its athletes are also facing being frozen out of other major events taking place this year.

The country’s figure skaters, who won six medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics including two gold, cannot compete in the world championships in Montpellier, France, scheduled for March 21-27.

Similarly, their track and field athletes, including those who compete as Authorised Neutral Athletes (ANA), are barred from competing in the indoor athletics world championships (Belgrade, March 18-20) and the outdoor edition later this year (Eugene, Oregon, July 15-24).

Nikita Mazepin’s future is up in the air. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Motorsport UK has also moved to stop drivers with Russian licences from competing in the UK, meaning Haas’ Nikita Mazepin will not be able to take part in July’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

However, with American team Haas debating whether to retain their Russian sponsor Uralkali, where Mazepin’s father Dmitry is a non-executive director, it places a question mark over his future in any case.

Ecclestone, for his part, says the call by the FIA this week to permit Russian drivers to still compete, albeit under a neutral flag, was the right one.

Other sports like tennis and swimming have taken the same line. The Russian Paralympic team also got the go-ahead on Wednesday to compete at the Beijing Winter Paralympics under a neutral flag.

“It was absolutely the right decision by the FIA,” said Ecclestone. “However, if Mazepin was not driving it would make no difference to anyone. It certainly is not punishing Putin by stopping him.”

Ecclestone was also far from certain Motorsport UK could prevent Mazepin from competing at Silverstone.

“If he is contracted to the Haas team when the British Grand Prix takes place he can drive,” he said.

Originally published as F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone rubbishes Russia sanctions after defending Putin