Former F1 ‘Supremo’ Bernie Ecclestone shares his reaction following detainment at Portuguese airport

Bernie Ecclestone found himself in hot water with the Portuguese authorities over the possession of a shotgun.

Ecclestone was held back at the Tires Aerodrome in Portugal after authorities found a shotgun on the Swiss native’s private jet.

The 95-year-old F1 icon claimed that he had brought the weapon with him for clay-pigeon shooting, but failed to carry the accompanying paperwork.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Bernie Ecclestone explained the circumstances which led to him being arrested by Portuguese authorities.

He claimed that Swiss customs cleared his possessions, but the Portuguese authorities demanded the proper paperwork or would place him under arrest before his wife, Fabiana Flosi, handled the matter.

“I had a gun that I was bringing over from Switzerland to Portugal for clay-pigeon shooting. It’s as simple as that. I have guns at home there that are licensed.

“We cleared customs on arriving here – I know the guys there – and they were fine with everything. No problems. Then a policeman afterwards asked to search the bag.

“It could have been [his six-year-old son] Ace’s fishing tackle for all it looked like, but it wasn’t.

“They asked if I had a ‘blue book,’ which is apparently the documentation you need, and I told them I never travel with documents like that, any documents at all, practically.

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“They said they would arrest me, but after what seemed like hours, we sorted it out, but it has been wall-to-wall aggravation.

“But it seems it can be put right. Fabi has gone to Lisbon to surrender the gun, or pay the tax or whatever you need to bring it in, or to hand it over in the end.

“I said I would go too, but I didn’t as it happened, and I am sitting at home waiting for the situation to be put to bed.”

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There were reports earlier that Ecclestone had actually been arrested rather than detained, but the Portuguese authorities clarified the situation in a statement to the Daily Mail.

“Our border control officers haven’t made the arrest that’s being attributed to them.”

It appears the situation may have reached a natural conclusion, but the former F1 boss is far from happy about the way things unfolded.

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