Madman distances himself from fellow madman

Here's TopGear.com's roving correspondent, Cory Spondent, with his weekly, mostly incorrect exclusives from the world of motoring

Vladimir Putin has stepped away from his invasion of Ukraine to denounce comments made by former F1 supremo and fellow lunatic Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone, 91, said in an interview that he would “still take a bullet” for “first class person” Putin, despite the Russian president's ongoing campaign to ransack a democratic nation and murder thousands in the process.

However, Putin has felt the need to distance himself from Ecclestone, fearing what the association could do to his reputation that bringing war back to Europe hasn't already.

"Invading another country for no reason whatsoever is one thing," he explained. "But being defended by Bernie Ecclestone is, frankly, a bit much. I'd like to put on record that Bernie’s support for me is not a reflection of the values I hold.

“Although,” he added, “the way things are going, he’s more than welcome to come and stand between me and that open window.”

Ecclestone’s bizarre intervention is the second controversy to hit F1 this week, after Nelson Piquet was banned from the paddock for aiming a racial slur at someone far younger and more successful than him.

"Piquet said what?!" said Putin. "Jeez. It's 2022 for heaven's sake."