Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has shotgun seized by Portuguese customs on private jet: second gun-related setback in three years

While Formula 1 is taking a break, media attention has shifted away from the racetrack and onto Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 commercial chief, who had a shotgun seized by Portuguese customs during a routine check on his private jet. The incident happened on Monday when officers found the undocumented firearm on the aircraft. Ecclestone, aged 95, said the shotgun was linked to a clay pigeon shooting event arranged by his wife, Fabiana Flosi. He denied any intention to hide the weapon and described the case as a misunderstanding due to a last-minute schedule change. Portuguese customs followed standard procedure and confiscated the weapon, requiring the former F1 supremo either to surrender the gun or pay import duty. The case brings back memories of his 2026 arrest in Brazil after he failed to declare a handgun in his luggage. Ecclestone controlled the commercial rights of Formula 1 from the 1970s until 2026, when Liberty Media took over. He is widely regarded as the architect who transformed F1 into a global commercial empire, but his latest legal issue highlights how even the most powerful figures in motorsport can be reminded of the strict rules of international travel.