Ecclestone: Hitler 'Got Things Done'

Mosley has fallen from favor amongst many involved in F1 but his power base runs deep and is intertwined in political hotbeds of Europe and around the globe. He has been a formidable foe of those who have crossed him and last years sex scandal, which would be the undoing of any mere politician, was a glancing blow to his retention as president of the FIA. 

Ecclestone initially buckled under the fallout of that scandal but quickly sided with his beleaguered friend. It seems he has chosen to repeat his endorsement this year with odd soliloquies about fascist leaders and tyranny being a more efficient form of government.

“Politicians are too worried about elections,” he said. “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.

"It was the same [with the Taleban]. We move into countries and we have no idea of the culture. The Americans probably thought Bosnia was a town in Miami. There are people starving in Africa and we sit back and do nothing but we get involved in things we should leave alone.

“All these guys, Gordon and Tony, are trying to please everybody all the time... Max would do a super job. He’s a good leader with people. I don’t think his background would be a problem.”

Ultimately Ecclestone’s espousal for Mosley seems to be an endorsement for Prime Minister and to extol the virtues of dictatorial leadership. If Ecclestone was trying to defend Mosley from the F1 team’s criticism, he went a bridge too far. Fascists leaders, tyranny, dictators, genocide, Hitler and Hussein all used on behalf of his friend Mosley for Prime Minister seems like padded-room logic.

All of this coming from the mouths of Formula 1’s leaders is, in this writer’s opinion, just too much. Mr. Ecclestone would do well to remember that fascism, dictatorial leadership tactics and “towns in Miami” (Miami is a city, not a state) didn’t help him become a billionaire nor would he have likely become one under such ideology. 

No, the very system he criticizes has fattened his calf and afforded him wealth of immeasurable amounts allowing for the bravery of being out of range.

This is a sport being errantly controlled by two men who are not savvy enough nor polished enough to make it in real politics and choose to exact their revenge on a sporting fiefdom that have tired of their lord’s keep and started a revolution. 

If you are a fan of fascism, genocide, Hitler, Hussein, dictators and tyranny, go play politics in government halls and leave the sport to those who appreciate it for what it is—a sport. A sport that is in desperate need of new leaders and serious flushing of these two fascist fawning dictators who have passed their “sell-by” dates. 

The sport has enough politics without throwing ideology into the mix. Irrespective of how capitalist, fascist, communist or centrist you might be, no one particularly wants to hear it whilst trying to watch Formula 1 racing. 

Perhaps retirement may afford both gentlemen the precious time they need to fawn poetically over long-sought ideologies and utopia on earth under a dictator in fatigues.

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