Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has played down the racism row surrounding Lewis Hamilton, insisting it has been blown out of proportion.

The newly-crowned world champion was abused during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, near Barcelona, in February.

Some spectators were pictured mocking Hamilton by wearing wigs, dark make-up and t-shirts with the slogan 'Hamilton's Family'.

And in the run up to last weekend's pivotal Brazilian Grand Prix, hundreds of abusive messages were posted on a website in Spain, many of them racist.

However, Ecclestone today moved to defuse the row.

"I think it's all nonsense," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "In Spain people were supporting (Fernando) Alonso and in Sao Paolo they were supporting Felipe (Massa).

"I don't think it was anything to do with racism.

"There were a few people in Spain and that was probably beginning as a joke rather than anything abusive.

"I think people look and read into things that are not there. All those things are all a bit of a joke and people are entitled to support who they want to support.

"I don't see why people should have been (insulted by it). These things are people expressing themselves."


So, what would he have considered racist then? Placards saying 'Hamilton is a nigger'? I have never wanted to give the tw*t a slap more than I do right now!

Apologies for the 'N' word, by the way. A word I hate, and have only used as an example of dreadful racism.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Agree 100%. Also, I think he's South African so doesn't have high regard for Lewis' ethnic race anyway...and a Ferrari driver didn't win the title!

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

It's Max "Of course I didn't dress as a Nazi for those prostitutes" Moseley that wants Ferrari to win everything.

Bernie is a big Hamilton fan, mainly due to the amount of money he brings in.

However I also agree with Lissa.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

F1 would be a whole load better if it Mosley and Ecclestone had nothing to do with it anymore.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

I,ve heard enough of the racial stuff recently from sport,news,politics,etc-you'd think a dude in ecclestones position would know when to keep his gob shut-its ok to have your own opinion on issues like this but if your in the public domain and you allow them to come out hell mend you.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

I'd say thats a bit narrow minded and shallow... just becos he MAY be South African he has to be a racist???

and by the way

Ecclestone was born in St Peter South Elmham, a small hamlet three miles south of Bungay, Suffolk.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Bernie Eccleston...ain't he the guy who stole Andy Warhols wig?

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Funny how there's all this palaver with Ross, Brand and Clarkson, none of which were deliberately trying to cause harm, then this Eccleston fella who doesn't seem to know what an insult is, let alone whether or not its intentional :rolleyes:

Blatantly obvious they weren't trying to support but then it's the same sort of thing, they could just be thinking it's a joke. If everyone had the same sense of humour, there'd be nothing for the journalists to report on these past couple of weeks! :lol:

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Please don't assume that all white South Africans are racist. I know a few who are very nice people and definately not racist.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Yarp same here. The ones I know are all top folk.

Bernie Ecclestone however comes across as a right tw4t.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

How the hell did you get the idea that the poison dwarf was from South Africa?? Whenever that **** is interviewed he's always asked if he'd like to see a fellow Englishman win the championship again????

That assumption that all South Africans are racist is very disturbing.:batman: Being of ethnic South African origin I take offense to that remark!:smt068

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Now this is a first for me - I'm actually going to (at least partially) defend the Poison Dwarf !!

I think in a way he has a point - from what I've read & seen concerning the 2 main incidents this season I don't believe that the initial thinking behind them were racist.

#1 - Spanish fans 'blacking up' & dressing up as "Hamilton's Family" :- I don't believe that the people concerned saw themselves as being racist - they honestly thought it was humourous. So, it would seem to me that some form of education is required to enlighten these people to the fact that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable in this day & age.

#2 - Anti-Hamilton website :- I didn't see this site - however, from what has been reported, it was as a map of the Interlagos circuit where people were encouraged to place virtual pins hoping to make Hamilton have a puncture in that location !!
Again I have to say it doesn't appear that there was any racial connotation behind the intial idea - stupid and silly maybe - but the problem is that a number of people then decided to not only place pins in their desired location but also leave some particularly vile and racist remarks in the 'comments section'.

So, it would seem to me that once again, as has happened throughout history & will undoubtably happen in the future, an idea be it funny or not has been hijacked by those with a different agenda for their own purposes.

To sum up, Bernie Ecclestone is probably correct in what he said - I am concerned that he didn't acknowledge *any* racist connotations though - but extrememly stupid to have actually said it !!

For the record, I don't agree with or condone either incident & can fully understand those who have condemned these muppets.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

As a South African I find that offensive. Please apologise.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

TBH not sure I see whats up with this really....

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

TBH Sosha I thought the same as you, but there is a fine line between being overly sensitive and racism, and something can appear to be on both sides of it. I don't have a problem with people "blacking-up" in the same way as wearing a Schui/DC chin or Truilli nose - as long as it's done in good spirit.

And that's the crux, how do you define good spirits? There has been outrage on this very forum over the criticism of Clarkson and his recent comments. I agree that racism is different (see, the very word makes people choose their words carefully), but I think you have to read something into intent.

Hating a black man or family is very different to hating blacks. (insert minority of choice here - I choose gingers)

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

disliking someone is not racist!!!

the whole world is going mad over being politically correct these days. Its perfectly ok / normal to do so as long as the reason is something other than the color of their skin.

Im pretty sure those spanish fans dislike hamilton due to his feud with alonso and not because he is black and as such are not racially motivated, motorsport unlike so many sports has not had problems with racism before and i imagine it wont in future.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

We are criticized for being racist but in how many instances do the people taking the flack refer to their own origins and are proud of it,it happens all the time.
I get refered to as Jock--Sweaty--Northern**** told to p1ss off back over the wall,

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

People in the public domain such as sportsmen and women/actors/politicians and the entertainments industry must lead a very closeted life if they expect that no reference is ever going to be made against them
Many of them use the race card in reverse and are proud to use it

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Even our entertainment maestro has a new avatar--------is he being racist?????

Think not,very funny but some could consider it offensive,same thing really

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

hello fellow Safrican... and yip i did too...



:pukel:



miskien moet ek eerder gese: ja broer, hoe gaan dit? :)

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

bernie is an ageing playboy, no-one should take him seriously.
and as for race...............well lets keep it on the track.

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

miskien moet ek eerder gese: ja broer, hoe gaan dit? :)[/quote]


Ok I've had my sister in-law translate this and as it complies with the U certificate it can stay;)

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Ok I've had my sister in-law translate this and as it complies with the U certificate it can stay;)[/quote]


:smt083

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Alles is goed my skat - mense soos hy maak vir my siek...

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

New post on crash.net about this, a good read. Fun off season times!

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Fok, maar julle afrikaans is so effens ver-roes:smt019:mrgreen:

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Ja nee, dis somer lekker strond! twee jaar laas dat ek die "taal" moes praat :) and how i miss it. there are so many things that u just cannot say in english with the impact it has in "die taal" .. jou moer, agteraf :cool:

and now i will be told off for derailing the thread.... :rolleyes:



sorry!

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

My thread.............and I don't mind.

I don't understand a bloody word you lot are saying though:D

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Ek is al tien jaar hier en het in Durban groot geword - miskien is my taal nie so goed nie :smt040:takeabow:

Sorry for the derail ;)

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Oh i do, and i agree, totaly agree, 100%. yea, totaly

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

Schadenfreude:p

Slavering has told the poison dwarf to give her all his money.

Well according to the papers, Slavica Ecclestone has asked for a divorce after leaving him 3 weeks ago.

Of course she must have loved him once, as he is only 10 inches shorter than her and 28 years older so they must have had something else in common.

GREED???

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

She's filed for divorce because they didn't see eye-to-eye ;)


Ayethangyoo :p

Re: Bernie ******* Ecclestone
 

:smt067