Bernie Ecclestone claims "in lots of cases" black people more racist than white

Bernie Ecclestone

Ecclestone claims "in lots of cases" black people more racist than white

While praising Lewis Hamilton for instigating change, Ecclestone makes his latest controversial comment

Sam Hall

Friday 26 June 2020 14:10 Updated: 15:53

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone does not expect 'The Hamilton Commission' or other initiatives from the FIA or Formula 1 to have an impact on the sport.

In recent months, the 'Black Lives Matter' movement has gathered pace, with largely peaceful protests being held to raise awareness and address the issue of discrimination and inequality.

Lewis Hamilton called out F1 and the wider motorsport community for remaining silent on the matter, and the response was immediate - the FIA and F1 both launching initiatives to create change while Hamilton himself launched his own commission.

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Speaking to CNN on the subject, Ecclestone said: "Lewis is a little bit special. First, he's very, very, very talented as a driver and he seems to be now extremely talented when's he standing up and can make speeches.

"This last campaign he's doing for black people is wonderful. He's doing a great job and it's people like that - easily recognisable - that people listen to."

However, when questioned on how the quest for change would affect F1, Ecclestone replied: "I don't think it's going to do anything bad or good for Formula 1.

"It'll just make people think which is more important. I think that's the same for everybody.

"People ought to think a little bit and think: 'Well, what the hell. Somebody's not the same as white people and black people should think the same about white people.'

"In lots of cases, black people are more racist than what white people are."

Several statues have been torn down or removed in the UK, but Ecclestone believes the statues should remain, with young people educated as to who the people depicted were, and why what they did was wrong.

"I think they need to start being taught at school," said Ecclestone.

"So they grow up not having to think about these things. I think it's completely stupid taking all these statues down. They should've left them there.

"Take the kids from school to look and say why they're there and what the people did and how wrong it was what they did."

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