Bernie Ecclestone has spoken of his "great admiration" for Vladimir Putin and says he "completely agrees" with the Russian president's views on homosexuality.

In an interview with CNN the Formula One chief executive claimed that Putin's policies on gay rights – which have included telling gay people that they would be not be subjected to harassment at the current Winter Olympics in Sochi, as long as they stay away from children – had been misrepresented.

"He hasn't said he doesn't agree [with homosexuality] just that he doesn't want these things publicised to an audience under the age of 18," Ecclestone told CNN. "I completely agree with those sentiments and if you took a world census you'd find 90% of the world agree with it as well."

"I've great admiration for him and his courage to say what he says. [It] may upset a few people but that's how the world is. It's how he sees [the world] and I think he's completely right."

Ecclestone, who was on Thursday victorious in his multi-million pound high court case with Constantin Medien, knows Putin through Formula One, with the pair meeting face-to-face to conclude a deal that will see Sochi host an F1 race for the first time in October this year.