LONDON - Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has
dismissed criticism on a recent remark perceived as racist, and
attacked the new leadership under Chase Carey.
F1 bosses and world champion Lewis Hamilton attacked the 89-year-old
Ecclestone after he told CNN that black people were often more racist
than white people.
But Ecclestone told the Mail on Sunday paper that "It is not my fault
that I am white.
"I am not anti black people. Quite the opposite. I have always been
very much in favour," he said. "'Over the years, I have met a lot of
white people I didn't like, but never a black person I didn't like."
Hamilton has lamented racism in the sport as part of the Black Lives
Matter movement in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police
custody in the United States, and F1 is now aiming for more diversity
in the sport.
But Ecclestone said in the direction of F1 and Carey: 'I'm glad he
said I have no involvement in Formula One, so I can't be credited
with all the things they've not done.
"They have jumped on this racism thing suddenly because of events in
America. Now Chase has put in all of 1 million dollars - enough to
get a mechanic into go-karting. Maybe he should concentrate on doing
what the shareholders want. Covid was good for him. He could blame
everything he hasn't achieved on that," Ecclestone said.