"I unreservedly apologise for the remarks I made regarding Hitler in a recent interview," Ecclestone said in a statement.

 

"I am extremely distressed and embarrassed that these remarks have been used as suggesting that I support Hitler or Saddam Hussein. I would never support such people."

 

Ecclestone said he deeply regretted his remarks, which appeared in The Times on Saturday.

 

"I should never have been so foolish as to have been drawn into discussing these people but the fault was entirely mine, which I deeply regret," he said.

 

"I hope and trust that my apology will be accepted in good faith."

 

In the interview, Ecclestone also said Britain had done "a terrible thing" by supporting the removal of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, adding: "He was the only one who could control that country."

 

The Briton told German newspaper Bild on Monday that the comments had all been "a huge misunderstanding" and said "some of my closest friends are Jewish".

 

The Central Council of Jews in Germany called for teams to boycott the German Grand Prix on Sunday in protest at his comments.

 

Ecclestone last month helped to defuse a major crisis within Formula One after leading teams threatened to create a breakaway championship next season.

 

The threat was warded off when the other key player in Formula One - his close friend FIA president Max Mosley - agreed not to seek re-election to his post.

 

Mosley is the son of British World War II Fascist leader Oswald Mosley

 

Source: Daily Telegraph

 

Makes you wonder about the guys running F1.

In the interview, Ecclestone also said Britain had done "a terrible thing" by supporting the removal of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, adding: "He was the only one who could control that country."

 

Well, he phrased it wrongly, but, in all honesty, can we actually argue that he doesn't have a point in some ways.....? The Post-Invasion "plan" was an absolute shambles which led to the insurgency and loads of Jihadi terrorists getting through the borders.... Then Bremmer goes in and makes things even worse by disbanding the Iraqi army... Loads of p"ssed off ex-servicemen with nothing to do, no means to feed their families, and, oh great, they happen to know where all the small arms dumps are........ :rolleyes:

 

What did he actually say about Hitler.....?