German politician cancels Ecclestone meeting

July 6, 2009 7:14 PM
Filed Under: F1

The future of the German grand prix at Hockenheim, as well as the viability of Bernie Ecclestone's long-standing role at the head of F1's commercial rights, fell under a dark cloud on Monday.

In the wake of the 78-year-old F1 chief executive's extraordinary interview with the Times of London, in which he spoke about dictators including Hitler, a German politician has cancelled a planned meeting with the Briton.

We reported late last week that Ecclestone was due to meet with Baden-Wurttemberg state premier Gunther Oettinger at the Nurburgring this weekend, in a bid to rescue embattled Hockenheim's formula one round.

But in the wake of the controversy, a spokesman for the Oettinger government says the meeting has been called off.

Spokesman Christoph Dahl is quoted by the German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur as confirming that it is the controversy surrounding Ecclestone's comments that sparked the decision.

Earlier, the Central Council of Jews in Germany joined the chorus of condemnation, referring specifically to the then scheduled Ecclestone-Oettinger meeting.

"One must not negotiate with fascists. One must condemn them and spurn them," the Council's deputy head Dieter Graumann said.

 

Source: GMM

Comments

Bristol411S3
July 7, 2009 11:01 AM
This seems odd. FOM is a private company that Ecclestone heads. It is successful. It was the Germans who were so keen to get Hockenheim back on the venue list to boost local businesses. Why would they then cancel and shoot themselves in the foot (yes, I know, some ridiculous political point)? F1 has many other venues pleading with it to host races. It is not as if Ecclestone NEEDS Hockenheim. And what's with calling him a fascist because he wishes to run a private company with one person driving the vision?

This is getting as ridiculous as everyone being up in arms that Max Mosley visits prostitutes. Big deal!

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