Ecclestone sorry for Hitler remarks

Bernie Ecclestone has issued an apology following remarks he made at the weekend about Adolf Hitler.

During an interview with The Times at the weekend, Formula One commercial rights holder Ecclestone said he admired Nazi leader Hitler’s ability “to get things done”.

That prompted outrage from various Jewish organisations, including a call for him to resign from the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder.

Dieter Graumann, a vice-president of the Central Council of Jews, further demanded that no Formula One team should continue to work with the 79-year-old.

It is also understood Gunther Ottinger, premier of the southern state of Baden-Wurttemberg, has cancelled a meeting with Ecclestone scheduled for during this weekend’s German Grand Prix.

The backlash has forced Ecclestone into apologising, both in The Times and The Jewish Chronicle.

In a personally-penned article in The Times, Ecclestone starts with the words: “First, an apology.”

Ecclestone added: “As readers of The Times will know, I remarked in an interview with this newspaper that Hitler was able to get things done.

“I have no complaints about the quote – it is what I said – but it was not what I meant to say.

“Not surprisingly it has upset a number of people in the Jewish community, in Germany and elsewhere.

“Those who don’t know me think I support Hitler’s atrocities; those who do know me have told me how unwise I was to articulate my points so badly that it should have been so widely misunderstood.”

Ecclestone then attempted to quantify his comments, remarking: “During the 1930s Germany was facing an economic crisis, but Hitler was able to rebuild the economy, building the autobahns and German industry.

“That was all I meant when I referred to him getting things done.

“I’m an admirer of good leadership, of politicians who stand by their convictions and tell the voters the truth.

“I’m not an admirer of dictators, who rule by terror.”

In an interview with The Jewish Chronicle, Ecclestone said: “I’m just sorry that I was an idiot. I sincerely, genuinely apologise.

“What I regret is people who have taken this the wrong way and have been offended.

“I’m really, really sad about that because I have done an awful lot for Jewish communities throughout, charities and whatever."