Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone still thinks highly of Russian President Vladimir Putin despite the war of aggression against Ukraine.

"I would still walk through fire for him," Ecclestone told British broadcaster ITV on Thursday.

Ecclestone found Putin to be "a first-class personality," adding: "He's doing what he thought was right for Russia." The 91-year-old Briton hinted that Putin had made mistakes, but that just happen.

You then have to make sure that you get out of the situation as best as possible.

Ecclestone blames Selenskyj

Ecclestone claimed that Putin did not willingly accept the deaths of thousands of innocent people in Ukraine with the invasion.

The billionaire, on the other hand, sees responsibility for the war in the hands of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He missed speaking to Putin.

"Had he thought enough about it, he would have tried to talk to Putin about it," Ecclestone said.

The Russian President is a reasonable person who listens and "did something".

With his admiration for Putin, Ecclestone does not speak for racing.

A Formula 1 spokesman described the comments as a "personal opinion" which "stands in stark contrast to the position of modern values ​​in our sport".