Monday 6th July 2009

« It’s time to call it a day » are the words coming from one senior F1 insider after Bernie Ecclestone’s latest shocking comments.

Ecclestone, not for the first time, courted controversy in a recent interview, saying that Adolf Hitler was a man who « was able to get things done » and that Max Mosley would do a better job governing Britain than Gordon Brown or Tony Blair.

The F1 supremo’s remarks, though, haven’t gone down well with one F1 insider saying it is a clear indication that it is now time for Ecclestone to retire.

« The saddest thing about it is that no one close to him has got the guts to put a hand on his shoulder and say : ’You aren’t the man you used to be and it’s time to call it a day,’ » a source told Autosport.

« And the man who should do it is Max. »

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the board of Deputies of British Jews believes Ecclestone clearly overstepped the mark.

« Mr Ecclestone’s comments regarding Hitler, female, black and Jewish racing drivers are quite bizarre. He says ’Politics are not for me’ and we are inclined to agree, » he told The Guardian.