Bernie Ecclestone spoke out on Piers Morgan Uncensored this evening following his appearance on Good Morning Britain. The former F1 boss said he would “still take a bullet” for the Russian leader Vladimir Putin when asked whether he was still considered a friend. Piers asked the sporting star whether he “regretted” what he said, with Ecclestone responding: “Whatever I said, I meant”.
Former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone defended Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning, Ecclestone claimed Putin “believed he was doing the right thing for Russia”.
That evening, he was grilled by Piers Morgan over his remarks that rippled around the world and the TalkTV host asked if Ecclestone had any regrets.
The ex-F1 boss started off by claiming he could not remember what he said in the GMB interview.
Piers refreshed his memory by reading out his comments and Ecclestone defended himself.
He said: “Whatever I said I meant, good or bad.
READ MORE: Ecclestone’s Putin praise becomes focus of Russia propaganda
Bernie replied: “No, I’m disappointed in what has happened. Because I would have never believed it would happen under his regime.”
Piers went on to ask: “Could it be possible he pulled the wool over your eyes?”
Ecclestone replied: “I suppose looking at what’s happened, you could sum it up in that way.”
“If that is the case, why would you still take a bullet for him?” Piers asked.
Ecclestone reiterated how “it’s an expression”, whilst Piers called the claim an “emphatic endorsement” to Putin.
At the end of the interview, Ecclestone said he was “terribly sorry” about what has happened in Ukraine and he is in the process of raising funds for the victims of the war.
However, he did say: “I’m not sorry for supporting [Putin]. I’m saying the dealings I’ve had with him and he’s a first-class person.”
The business magnate had caused a storm by praising Putin and blaming Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for not doing enough to avoid war.
The comments caused outrage, coming just days after a Russian rocket attack on a packed shopping mall in Ukraine.
Piers Morgan Uncensored airs daily on TalkTV at 8pm.
