Bernie Ecclestone honors Lando Norris with President's medal during F1 event in Austria
After years of tradition, Formula One has added a new accolade to its roster of awards - the President's Medal. This unique honour is intended to highlight the history that each grand prix victor will become part of.
The medal was first presented by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix. The prestigious event took place at the Red Bull Ring, with Lando Norris taking the victory. The medal presentation was an honour for Formula One legend Bernie Ecclestone, who was asked by the President of the platform, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to present the award on his behalf.
Ecclestone expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating that it was an honour for him to present the President's Medal. The medal is a personal memento to commemorate each grand prix victor's outstanding achievement. It was engraved with the Formula One World Championship race number of 1079, marking the 1136th race in the history of the World Championship.
Interestingly, this was the first time Ecclestone had been on the podium since the beginning of his career in the sport, making the occasion even more special. The President of the platform also gave a personal congratulations to Lando Norris, recognising his impressive seventh career win.
The President's Medal was created as a unique personal memento to commemorate the winner's outstanding achievement. While it has only been presented once so far, it is expected to become a regular part of FIA race awards. As of now, the known recipients are the race winners of the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.
The introduction of the President's Medal marks a new official presidential recognition in the sport, promoting prestige and highlighting winners in the growing motorsport disciplines like Formula E, which emphasizes electric vehicle racing and future-forward technologies. It is a testament to the evolving recognition in FIA-sanctioned motorsport series.
While the President's Medal is a new initiative, it is already making a significant impact in the world of Formula One. It is a symbol of the FIA President’s acknowledgment of outstanding race performance, elevating the winner’s stature. As the sport continues to evolve, it is exciting to see new traditions being introduced and the President's Medal is certainly one to watch.
Lando Norris, the Formula One race victor of the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, was honored with the President's Medal, a unique accolade symbolizing his outstanding achievement. This new award, created by the FIA President, is expected to become a regular part of race awards, recognizing winners in various motorsport disciplines like Formula E.
