Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was briefly detained at an airport in Portugal on Monday after authorities discovered a shotgun for which he did not have the required permit.
The 95-year-old was stopped at Tires Airport, near Lisbon, by officers from the airport division of Portugal’s Public Security Police. He was released several hours later after the matter was resolved.
Ecclestone told the Daily Mail that he had brought the firearm from Switzerland because he intended to use it for pigeon shooting.
According to Ecclestone, officers asked him to produce a “blue book,” which he understood to be the necessary firearm documentation. He said he did not routinely travel with such paperwork and was warned that he could be arrested.
After several hours of discussions, Ecclestone was allowed to leave. He described the experience as prolonged and frustrating.
Ecclestone led Formula 1 between 1987 and 2017 and now divides his time between homes in Switzerland and Portugal.
It is not the first time he has encountered difficulties while travelling with a firearm. In May 2022, Brazilian police detained him at Viracopos Airport after finding an undeclared .32-caliber pistol in his luggage. He paid a fine and was subsequently permitted to continue his journey.
The British businessman became one of motorsport’s most influential figures after securing control of Formula 1’s television rights in the late 1970s. He remained a dominant force in the sport for four decades before stepping down, although he continues to attend races.
Seen in:
