Former Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was questioned by Portuguese police after arriving at an airport with a firearm that he intended to use for a clay pigeon shooting competition.
The 95-year-old British businessman was stopped by police and customs officials at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais after travelling from Switzerland. Authorities questioned him for around an hour before taking possession of the firearm because he did not have the required documentation to bring it into Portugal.
Ecclestone denied reports that he had been arrested, explaining that he was simply stopped and questioned by officers regarding the documentation surrounding the firearm.
He said the authorities treated him professionally and that he had expected no difficulties because the airport staff were familiar with him. Ecclestone had previously transported the firearm from England to Switzerland before travelling to Portugal.
The incident occurred as Ecclestone was preparing to take part in a clay pigeon shooting competition in the country.
It is not the first time the former F1 boss has faced difficulties involving a firearm while travelling. In 2022, he was arrested in Brazil after authorities found an illegally carried firearm while he was preparing to board a private aircraft. He was subsequently ordered to pay a fine.
Ecclestone led Formula 1 for almost four decades before leaving his position in 2017 following Liberty Media’s takeover of the sport. Since then, he has remained a prominent figure within the motorsport world.
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