Ecclestone asks Hungarian President “Was your crown made in China?”
The Hungarian Grand Prix organisers marked the 25th anniversary of their first F1 race this weekend.
They put on a lavish ceremony attended by F1′s top drivers, Formula One Management CEO Bernie Ecclestone and the new Hungarian President Pál Schmitt.
The video below from Hungarian news site index.hu shows some highlights from the event including an amusing exchange between Schmitt and Ecclestone – the F1 boss asking whether a 1,000-year-old crown he was shown had been “made in China”.
Fortunately the Hungarian president seemed to take the joke in the manner it was intended.
Earlier Schmitt thanked Ecclestone for arranging the first Hungarian Grand Prix in 1986, when Hungary was still part of the Eastern Bloc:
I would like to express my distinguished gratitude to Mr Bernie Ecclestone who decided around 30 years ago he would have a race in one of the former socialist countries.
Pál Schmitt
Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Heikki Kovalainen, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock, Bruno Senna and Sakon Yamamoto were among the drivers present.
2010 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Technical review: German and Hungarian Grands Prix
- From the stands: Nikolai Vogler watches two races in one week
- Ecclestone asks Hungarian President “Was your crown made in China?”
- Michael defends Barrichello strategy
- How F1 can make pit stops safer
- 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix – the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
- A move too far: Schumacher forces stewards to take a stand
- Who was the best driver of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend?
- Red Bull mark 100th F1 start with win (Hungarian Grand Prix facts and stats)
- Red Bull fly to victory but FIA set to clip their wings (Red Bull race review)
Victor. said on 7th August 2010, 9:57
Hungary was never part of the USSR… It was part of the Soviet Bloc.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 7th August 2010, 10:02
Sorry, my mistake. Fixed it.
paulo said on 7th August 2010, 9:57
Sorry to be picky, but Hungary was never part of the USSR… Going to a country behind the Iron Curtain was a great, bold step. Terrific blog!
Tiomkin said on 7th August 2010, 10:06
Nice and insightful, who knew Bernie was genuinely funny?
Arpi_ said on 7th August 2010, 10:22
If he had asked the same question from the Queen of England, he would been even shorter now (about a head). Cheeky dwarf!
AlonsoWDC said on 7th August 2010, 11:22
Cheeky joke.
Crucify him!
chaostheory said on 7th August 2010, 11:32
Haha, yeah, 1000 years ago there were actually things that werent made in China :P
But most funny were all the drivers looking soo scared and saying to the cameras (again) things like “this is one of the best circuits in the calendar” :\ They all know its not the best, or even one of the bast, but they also know Hungarian GP was quite important here in Central Europe. Take a look at Lewis saying it, and looking like a kid trying to lie and knowing deep inside everyone knows he’s bluffing :D
Nitpicker said on 7th August 2010, 11:54
Drivers say that about every circuit they visit. Unfortunately, they are as much paid for being enthusiastic about every place and person they visit as they are for driving the cars.
Ecclestone is far too cocky. If a driver joked like that there’d be a media furore and talk of “bringing the sport into disrepute.”
Steph90 (@steph90) said on 7th August 2010, 12:06
“Drivers say that about every circuit they visit”
That’s not entirely true as Webber called valencia a tesco carpark last year when he was actually at the circuit.
I think this is a track the drivers enjoy more than the fans. There may not be a lot of action but it’s corner after corner with mostly a nice flow to it. There will be some PR to it there nearly always is but I think the drivers do generally enjoy this track.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 7th August 2010, 12:07
Indeed, there was criticism of Valencia from several drivers this year:
“Not the most interesting circuit” – what the drivers say about Valencia
John H said on 7th August 2010, 14:29
Maybe that’s why Webber wasn’t invited :)
BasCB (@bascb) said on 7th August 2010, 12:25
Not sure Bernie would have dared make the same comment in England (nor in Japan or even the Netherlands or Spain).
And I noticed Alonso wearing glasses there!
CNSZU said on 7th August 2010, 12:39
What a tremendous guy Bernie is, knowledgeable and witty. I would rather have lunch with him than any woman in the world, and I’d pay him 10,000$ for the experience.
Cacarella said on 8th August 2010, 2:10
Someone please block Bernie’s mother from commenting on this blog.
Her opinion is Biased.
Mike said on 8th August 2010, 3:09
Agreed, Also please note how Bernie’s mother refers to women.
…..
Witty Bernie? I think Stupid Bernie comes close… Yeah it was funny, but to a President? Hmmm…..
Nixon (@nixon) said on 7th August 2010, 13:31
He’d take the money straight away. (joke)
Rob Gallagher said on 7th August 2010, 14:01
Karun isn’t there how… interesting.
Mike said on 8th August 2010, 3:12
Yeah I saw that as well, something tells me Karun isn’t coming back anytime soon.
Felipe Bomeny (@portugoose) said on 7th August 2010, 14:17
He was lucky. Remember last time how the Jewish community responded to his Hitler quotes? And his remarks about women ‘being household objects’? He was really lucky the PRESIDENT of Hungary wasn’t offended.
bosyber said on 15th August 2010, 8:34
Or maybe the president of Hungary is smart enough (good advisors?) to not show any annoyance at it, but go along with it cursing Bernie later to his friends and family.
BBQ2 said on 7th August 2010, 14:44
Well, I am not here to defend BE but I can’t remember a day running out with me touching a “Made In China” product. :( …..
Whoever is without this sin, let him/she throw the first stone. (sigh)
rmac923 said on 7th August 2010, 15:09
That’s our Bernie!!!
(insert 1980′s studio audience laughter)
f1yankee said on 7th August 2010, 17:18
we will return after a word from our sponsors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Pn-PvhY_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW97bDAOUSs
Robert McKay said on 7th August 2010, 17:31
Is Bernie turning into Prince Phillip :-D
Steph90 (@steph90) said on 7th August 2010, 17:58
That’s what I wondered too :P
Rooney said on 7th August 2010, 21:50
In the last scene, you can see Adrian Sutil in the background..