Mr Ecclestone added that the war in Ukraine was not “intentional”, saying: “And I’m pretty sure Ukraine, if they wanted to get out of it properly, could do it.”
Asked if he had a chance to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about “what a mess” the situation is or prompted him to reconsider what he was doing, Mr Ecclestone told Good Morning Britain: “No. He probably thought about it himself, he probably did not need to remember.
“I’m absolutely sure he now wishes he had not started this whole business, but did not start as a war.”
Formula 1 distanced itself from the comments, telling the Telegraph: “The remarks made by Bernie Ecclestone are his personal views and are in stark contrast to the position of the modern values of our sport.”
The former Formula 1 boss has a long-standing friendship with the Russian president.
In February this year, just a day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Mr. Ecclestone described Putin as “honorable” and apparently refused to criticize his decision to start the war.
Mr Ecclestone told Times Radio: “As a person I found him [Putin] very straightforward and honorable. “
“He did exactly what he said he was going to do without any arguments.”
The 91-year-old’s loyalty dates back to 2019 and beyond. In that year, Mr Ecclestone told The Times he felt the Russian “should govern” Europe, and apparently supported his anti-democracy ideology.
“He’s a good guy. He’s never done anything that does not do good things to people. I wish he was running Europe. We have no one, so it could not be worse.”
“He’s doing what he says he’s going to do … I’m not a supporter of democracy. You need a dictator. As a dictator you say, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ In a democracy, it is being watered down. “