Most international sports organizations are now relentlessly fighting everything Russian. The authorities forbid Russian athletes to use state symbols, remove them from competitions and even take away their old prizes. If any of the officials wants to speak out in support of Russia now, then they are probably afraid to do so.

However, the honorary president of Formula 1 found the courage to go against the system. 91-year-old Bernard Ecclestone has committed an act unthinkable by today’s standards. But here’s the strange thing: the British were unexpectedly supported on social networks.

Is attitude towards Russia changing for the better?

“Putin is a first-class person”

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone appeared on Good Morning Britain and made several statements that shocked the British public. The 91-year-old businessman stood up for former Brazilian race car driver Nelson Piquet, who made a racist remark about Briton Lewis Hamilton. Having encroached on one mainstream shrine of Western society, the honorary president of Formula 1 did not hesitate to question another on the air. And expressed support for Vladimir Putin.

– I’m still ready to take a bullet for Vladimir Putin. This is a first class person. He does everything for Russia that he considers right, – Ecclestone was taken aback by TV presenters.

Vladimir Putin and Bernie Ecclestone / Photo: © Clive Mason / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

To the heap, the Briton criticized the established practice of discrimination against Russian and Belarusian athletes on a national basis, saying that athletes should not be interfered with. In general, old Bernie did everything possible so that the next time the TV people thought for a long time before taking a comment from him on this or that issue.

Ecclestone can really afford to say whatever he thinks. To put it in words from children’s folklore, grandfather is old, he doesn’t care. But it does not matter to the current leadership of Formula 1. Officials hastened to isolate themselves from Bernie’s statements: they say, all this is just his personal opinion. And it sharply contradicts the official position of the organization.

“Words of a Brave and Wise Man”

Probably, one should have expected that for the alternative position of the Formula 1 veteran, the media would immediately smash it to smithereens, and the fans would express their “fi” on social networks. But they did not openly “wet” Bernie in the Western press, they only brought loud statements, not embarrassed to take them out of context in places. Perhaps the words in Putin’s defense were intended to lead to a flurry of indignation in the comments. Indeed, some of the former head of Formula 1 condemned:

“Poor old Grandpa Bernie is losing his mind, just like Joe Biden.

“He just supports his fellow billionaire, the way billionaires do.

However, oddly enough, much more users supported the opinion of Ecclestone, or at least stood up for his right to his own opinion.

“He says what 80% of the world’s population is allowed to speak and hear outside of the NATO/Biden zones.

— Bernie. It’s time for someone to show some common sense.

“Finally… Someone with the courage to speak up.

— Fair game for Bernie. An honest person is one who can think for himself.

He didn’t say anything bad, just expressed his opinion. Just because his opinion is contrary to the opinion of the majority, is it considered wrong?

There are a lot of people in England like Bernie Ecclestone, and they would vote to make Putin prime minister.

— The words of a brave and wise man. No, seriously, the idiocy of Johnson and Truss has already bothered everyone.

– I wish my grandfather was as cool as Bernie Ecclestone.

Judging by the support of ordinary sports fans, Ecclestone’s opinion is not as unpopular as it is presented in the media. It looks like there are still enough sane people in Europe. It is a pity that there are very few officials among them.