Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 boss, was detained in Portugal on Monday (September 7) after authorities found a shotgun without the required documentation on his private jet at Tires Aerodrome near Cascais.

Ecclestone acknowledged that he did not have the necessary certification for the firearm but denied that he had been formally arrested. He said the situation was resolved after several hours, while the legal proceedings remain unclear.

Ecclestone says he brought the shotgun for clay shooting

According to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, Ecclestone was stopped after landing in Cascais on his private jet from Switzerland. The firearm was discovered during a routine inspection.

Ecclestone, who was accompanied by his wife Fabiana Flosi, said he had brought the shotgun to Portugal for clay pigeon shooting. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained: “I had a gun that I was bringing from Switzerland to Portugal for clay-pigeon shooting. It’s as simple as that. I have guns at home there that are licensed.”

The former F1 chief said he initially passed through customs without problems before a police officer asked to search his luggage. According to Ecclestone, the firearm was initially mistaken for equipment belonging to his six-year-old son, Ace: “It looked like Ace’s fishing equipment, but it wasn’t.”

Ecclestone says he did not have the required documentation

Ecclestone said authorities then asked whether he had a “blue book”, which he understood to be the documentation required for the firearm.

The Briton acknowledged that he did not carry the paperwork and said he was told he could be arrested. “They asked if I had a ‘blue book’, which is apparently the documentation you need, and I told them I never travel with documents like that, any documents at all, practically,” he said.

Ecclestone added that the situation was eventually resolved after several hours, although he described the episode as a major inconvenience: “They said they would arrest me, but after what seemed like hours, we sorted it out, but it has been wall-to-wall aggravation.”

Firearm handed over to authorities

Ecclestone said his wife travelled to Lisbon to deal with the firearm and the necessary procedures.

“Fabiana went to Lisbon to hand the gun over, or pay the duty or whatever is necessary to bring it into the country, or to hand it over permanently,” he explained.

Ecclestone said he initially intended to accompany her but ultimately stayed at home while the matter was being resolved.

Reuters reported that Ecclestone completed the necessary documentation and that the shotgun was handed over to authorities in Lisbon.

Bernie Ecclestone was F1’s boss from the late 1970s until January 2017 (Photo: F1)

Ecclestone’s legal status remains unclear

The exact legal status of the case remains unclear.

Portuguese reports described Ecclestone as having been detained following the discovery of the undocumented firearm. However, the former F1 chief has disputed the characterization that he was formally arrested, saying he was questioned for several hours before the matter was resolved.

The Guardian reported that Portuguese authorities confiscated the shotgun and opened preliminary criminal proceedings, but no formal charges had been reported at the time of publication.

For now, there is no confirmation that Ecclestone will be taken before a judge or formally charged in connection with the firearm.

It is Ecclestone’s second firearm-related incident in four years

The Portuguese case comes four years after Ecclestone faced a similar situation in Brazil.

In May 2022, he was detained at Viracopos Airport in Campinas while preparing to board a private flight to Switzerland. Police found a .32-caliber LW Seecamp pistol in his luggage, and Ecclestone was released after paying bail.

The incident was covered at the time by GRANDE PRÊMIO’s report on Ecclestone’s detention in Brazil over illegal firearm possession.

Ecclestone said at the time that the situation was a misunderstanding. The Portuguese episode is therefore the second time in four years that the former F1 executive has faced police intervention over a firearm.

Ecclestone’s F1 role ended in 2017

Ecclestone, now 95, ran Formula 1’s commercial operation for several decades and remained one of the most influential figures in the sport until his departure in 2017 following Liberty Media’s takeover.

Although he no longer holds an executive position in F1, Ecclestone remains a prominent figure around the championship and continues to comment on the sport.

The F1 season resumes this weekend, September 11-13, with the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madrid street circuit. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the 14th round of the 2026 season.

FAQ

Why was Bernie Ecclestone detained in Portugal?

Ecclestone was stopped at Tires Aerodrome near Cascais after authorities found a shotgun on his private jet without the documentation required to bring the firearm into Portugal.

Was Bernie Ecclestone arrested in Portugal?

Ecclestone denied that he was formally arrested. He said he was questioned by authorities for several hours before the situation was resolved and the firearm was handed over. Portuguese authorities have not yet clarified his final legal status.

Has Bernie Ecclestone faced a similar firearm case before?

Yes. In 2022, Ecclestone was detained at Viracopos Airport in Brazil after police found an undocumented .32-caliber pistol in his luggage. He was released after paying bail.