Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone is the 78 year old billionaire president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and is considered to be the authority in Forumula One.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Ecclestone

He has made several controversial statements during his career, such as referring to women as "domestic appliances"http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=irl&id=2089257 in reference to the possibility of Danica Patrick entering Formula Onehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1026191/Race-car-beauty-wins-shot-woman-Formula-1-driver-30-years.html

In a recent interview with the Times, Ecclstone was asked who his favorite dictator was, referring to the recent controversy in Formula One and Ecclestone's statement that a dictator and not democracy is what is needed.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6632991.ece Ecclestone answered Hitler, because "..he could command a lot of people able to get things done.” He also stated that Max Mosely would make "an excellent Prime Minister".

Bernie Ecclestone and his wife of 24 years, Slavica Ecclestone, were divorced in March of 2009http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1085514/RICHARD-KAY-Bernie-Ecclestones-wife-Slavica-breaks-racing-boss.html

In a Times interview published on 4 July 2009, Bernie Ecclestone made several comments in reference to Adolf Hitler including that he was a man "man who could get things done".http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6632991.ece

The statements were in reference to a dispute between the FIA, who manage the rules and regulations of Formula One and several F1 teams, over new controversial rules for the 2010 season. Ecclestone is a friend of FIA President Max Mosely and was trying to make the point that Mosley should be more firm and less democratic when dealing with the teams.

Later, when speaking to German newspaper Bild, Ecclestone said: "This was all a big misunderstanding." "I did not put Hitler forward as a positive example, but simply noted that, before his appalling crimes, he acted successfully against unemployment and the economic crisis." He included that it was not his intention to "hurt the feelings of a community ... many of my closest friends are Jews." http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/06/bernie-ecclestone-hitler-controversy