Politician cancels Ecclestone meeting

Ecclestone told on Saturday that he liked the way that Hitler was able to 'get things done' because of his dictatorial approach. Those comments caused a huge uproar, with leading Jewish organisations and politicians calling on him to step down.

Now, the German press agency DPA has reported that Gunther Oettinger, prime minister of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, who was due to meet Ecclestone to discuss the future of Hockenheim, has called off their get-together because of the controversy.

Ecclestone has not yet issued an official statement in response to his comments, but German newspaper quoted him as saying the story had been the result of a 'huge misunderstanding.'

He told the tabloid paper: "I did not put Hitler up as a good example, but I simply pointed out that before his terrible crimes, he had acted successfully against unemployment and the economic crisis."