Amid the controversy over alleged racist comments, Bernie Ecclestone has received some support from a retired American driver. Just days after the former F1 supremo received scathing reproofs for saying that “in many cases black people are more racist than whites,” Willy T Ribbs says Ecclestone actually gave him a chance at a Formula 1 career.
Ribbs tested for the Brabham team in 1986 in Formula 1, then led by owner Bernie Ecclestone. The American says to CNN, “He wanted me to be in the car. He wanted me to race in Formula 1.”
Unfortunately that didn’t happen and it was not Ecclestone, as the 65-year-old former driver from the Indycar and Nascar says: “The sponsors of the team were Italian at the time. They wanted Italian drivers and I fully respect him. I don’t mind. “
“My goal was to drive Formula 1, but Bernie Ecclestone made a statement because Bernie Ecclestone had the first man of color, the first black man, drive a Formula 1 car.”
Ribbs says he has ‘only respect’ for the 89-year-old.
Brabham 1986
Ultimately, Ribbs did not drive in Formula 1 for Brabham, but the team did indeed start the 1986 F1 season with two Italian drivers. Ricardo Patrese and Elio de Angelis started the season, after which the Angelis died in a crash and his place was taken by Derek Warwick.
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