Interesting interview with Bernie - below is part from F1 Live for the complete interview go to the link below to the timesonline In a quite extraordinary interview with The Times newspaper, Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone lifted the lid on some of his social, economic and political beliefs. And a regular Pandoras Box it is too. Ecclestone has ruled the commercial side of the sport with an iron fist for many decades now and despite the recent threat from the Formula One Teams Association, the billionaire and FIA President Max Mosley seem set to continue to dominate the sport in commerce and regulation respectively. There is however ongoing unrest within the FIA camp following recent accusations from Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo that Mosley runs the sport in a dictatorial fashion, something Ecclestone has strong views on. If you have a look at a democracy it hasnt done a lot of good for many countries including this one," Ecclestone told the British Times newspaper. I like people who make up their minds. If you have to keep referring to your grandmother before you do anything I think thats dumb. I make decisions, sometimes wrong, sometimes right so long as you get more things right than wrong then thats okay. As ever, Ecclestone wastes no time cutting to the chase. Being decisive is often seen as a positive aspect in ones individuals make-up, but that is a far cry denouncing democracy. Ecclestone went on to explain his admiration for determined and single-minded leaders such as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, loved or loathed by a majority in the UK. Ecclestone however has little time for New Labour, the party that has dominated the political landscape since sweeping to victory in 1997, claiming that both former and current Prime Minister Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have tried to please everyone and that the current FIA President would do a super job as Prime Minister. The most recent Iraq war split opinions around the world with some saying that the invasion of the country was logical and justified based upon the - ultimately incorrect - intelligence that suggested that weapons of mass destruction were being stockpiled by the Hussein regime Others took the view that pre-emptive wars are fundamentally abhorrent. There are a plethora of arguments based around the two scenarios, but Ecclestone is clear on his view. We did a terrible thing when we supported the idea of getting rid of Saddam Hussein, he was the only one who could control that country, Ecclestone continued. It was the same [with the Taleban]. We move into countries and we have no idea of the culture. When asked who his favourite historical dictator was, Ecclestone said Maggies gone and then added: In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but 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. In the end he got lost so he wasnt a very good dictator because either he had all these things and knew what was going on and insisted, or he just went along with it... so either way he wasnt a dictator Ecclestone went on to give his views on the environment, the taxations system, the fact that he would scrap the tax-payer funded British National Health Service and of course personal finance. I have a credit card but hardly use it. I bought my yacht with a cheque... Here's the full interview: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6632991.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1
Dear lord.....I guess the article speaks for itself. Hates democracy and loves Hitler for his ability to make dictorial decisions? He thinks that Mosley would make a great PM? God help all us Formula 1 fans because this is the guy in charge.
Touching Hitler is of course a political hot potato. If one chooses to do so, one better knows the facts. Bernie obviously doesn't and makes himself look really bad. It is also interesting how quick he shoots from the hip on some very heavy topics. Compare that to the sing and dance he gives any reporter when asked e.g. about the return of the USGP: You get a ten minute answer which essentially has no meaning.
Right. Actually, Hitler was a victim. Wtf is this guy thinking?! All the conspiracy theories about the Nazis having built secret bases on the south pole and on Mars are wrong. After WWII, they obviously took over F1. The one thing I hope is that such statements backfire ... big time. Maybe we can get rid of him.
Actually I think these statements are the best thing that could have happened to F1................... These comments are already scrolling on the bottom ticker of ESPN here in the US (ESPN does not cover F1 at all btw). I am willing to bet that with everything that has happened over the last couple months, if these comments keep gaining momentum with the international media, going into the the GERMAN grand prix mind you, this utter waster of oxygen will be out of F1 and we can all try to erase him from our memory as quickly as possible.
Unbelievable... I'm lost for words, the man has lost the plot however it explains how Mosley has kept his job for this long.. Some folk like dictators like Max thats quite apparent on here, and thats fine the showers are over there ...
I cannot say that I agree with Bernie's world view especially as it relates to Hitler. However I must admire either his honesty or his showmanship, I cannot decide which. One must be really old and really rich to get away with such pronouncements. And if you live in the ah-so-politically-correct USA, even that won't save you. Sometimes when I think that Bernie's just senile, I cannot escape the conclusion that the same Bernie has kept me following F1 all these years when the GP's increasingly don't amount to any actual racing. I'm afraid that if Bernie's a fool then I must be a bigger one following a sport much less exciting and eventful than your average bowling match.
So MaXXX and Bernie Both admire Adolph. FOTA I'm with you 100% if you have an ounce of courage and a gram of integrity...
Maybe Bernie is boxing clever I hope!! just to keep PornoMax sweet so he keeps to his word and leaves.. In other words lets hope, having Bernie praise you is like having the hangman saying you've got a pretty neck.
If Bernie operated in America and said this his career would be over. No ifs ands or buts. A stupid stupid thing for any public figure to say. I can't imagine what he was thinking.
And the Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2517523/F1-boss-Hitler-got-things-done.html Image Unavailable, Please Login
I know that Europe never got carried away with this 'politically correct syndrome' like we did here in the states, but I cannot emphasize how bad his timing was. We all know how the Germans don't mess around one iota in terms of public relations when figures with an audience make these types of remarks openly, and with the German GP next weekend more than likely this story isn't going anywhere over the next week.
Well, If you take the racist element out, and the 100 million dead of WW2 Hitler was not such a bad guy! Just kidding. Historically speaking Hitler is a facinating character, and was an undeniable master of mass persuasion. As a dictator... not so much... Killed untolled million, sent the world to war, ruined the (somewhat good) reputation of Germany and Germans for generations... much the same as Mosely and Ecclestone are doing today. I do agree that if you want something done, a dictator ship works best... aka Napoleon, Charlemagne, Caesar, Alexander... etc...
One man may be the means to "get something done". The issue is *WHAT* is getting done. And that's something that one man doesn't decide very well, for the sake of a group. Even democracies have executive branches -- a President, a PM -- someone to "get 'er done". But they depend on contributions by all interested parties to determine *what* should be done. Bernie has forgotten that he (and his bills) aren't the only interested party in F1. Hitler could make speeches, but his leadership of the military was a big contribution to Germany losing the war. He could "get things done", but didn't have even a corporal's notion of *what* should get done. Not a good role model for F1 leadership. (Just what has Max got on Bernie, anyway? ) Remind me: just what did FOTA get out of *not* forming their own series?
The surprise not that Bernie admires (and maybe a bit jealous of as well) Hitler but that he would say so in public. With FOTA, the fans and the press heady after feasting on Max's head Bernie may be vulnerable in a way that he has never been before. Let us hope.
Dave I hear you and I agree with DGS's valid points...but . I thinking a bit more at why he said these outlandish things..Bernie is a clever mother and he could be sending out a subtle message to Max here... Fact he is admitting Max is a dictator, he clearly thinks Max would make a good politican, they have to lie don't they!!!! "the truth is not always good to hear" is he hinting in a subtle fashion that Porno can't be trusted!!!! We all know what fuss LH caused now don't we ... Banging on about Hilter, with Mosley in the same sentence cannot be considered a compliment!! can it!!. However Mosley, when he last tried to get in to politics was advised not to why: because of his dads fascists activities ..so it seems a bit suss to me! I do agree Bernie really is pushing it with this though quite insanely.. It appears he hasn't read Mein Kampf I'm sure he has upset ALOT of people.. so he is either morally replusive or he is doing it for a reason, either way it's idiotic to say the least.
A chance to participate in a real championship next year. You know the one that is actually performed on real race tracks with actual stewards regulating it and tangible TV stations broadcasting it. As opposed to "drive virtually" on non existing venues in front of non existing TV stations regulated by a non existing rule book.
We're still not returning the tea Maybe I'm just insufficiently devious but I can not see any upside for Bernie in this. I have no doubt he admires despotism as the most efficient form of governance but to come out in public and complement Hitler? Beyond bizzare. Has there been an outbreak of Mad-Cow disease over there?