Bernie Ecclestone has been in trouble before for his remarks, but this time seems the most serious. (Associated Press)Criticism of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone continued to grow Sunday after he was quoted as saying Adolf Hitler "got things done."
World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder called on the often controversial Ecclestone to resign, saying he is no longer fit to serve in his role.
Lauder's statement, from New York, also called on teams, drivers and host countries of the F1 series to end their co-operation with the man who owns the sport's commercial rights.
During an interview with the London Times published on Saturday, Ecclestone, a 78-year-old billionaire, expressed preference for "strong leaders," while saying democracy had done little for Britain over the years.
But it was his words on the former leader of Nazi Germany, responsible for starting the Second World War that killed upward of 70 million people and the Holocaust that nearly eliminated of Europe's Jewish population, which brought the most anger.
"In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done," Ecclestone was quoted as saying.
Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard said Ecclestone was "either an idiot or morally repulsive."
Denis MacShane, a Labour member of Parliament who chairs an all-party inquiry into anti-Semitism in Britain, told ITV News, "If Mr. Ecclestone seriously thinks Hitler had to be persuaded to kill six million Jews, invade every European country and bomb London, then he knows neither history and shows a complete lack of judgment."
This is not the first time the F1 head has gotten in trouble for comments, though this seems to have caused the most controversy. He once said women should dress in white "like all domestic appliances," though later claimed it was in jest.
With files from The Associated Press
