Ecclestone reveals why he attended last Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix

At the invitation of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, former "F1 Supremo" Bernie Ecclestone attended last Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix to present the FIA President’s Medal to race winner Lando Norris at the Red Bull Ring.

Bernie Ecclestone attended the Spielberg round to hand out a medal on behalf of the president of the governing FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to McLaren's race winner Lando Norris.

The McLaren driver won Formula 1's 1,136th championship grand prix and Ecclestone attended the first at Silverstone in 1950. The 94-year-old has rarely been seen in the paddock since exiting the sport in 2017 but was in Spielberg on Sunday.

The President's Medal was first presented to Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the season-ending 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and each one carries the race number and highlights the event's history.

The medial has been created as unique personal memento to commemorate the winner’s outstanding achievement, and it is also intended to "highlight the history that each grand prix victor will become part of."

After presenting the medal to the McLaren driver, Bernie Ecclestone said: “I think it’s really nice that the President gives a personal congratulations to the winning competitor.

"As he could not attend the Formula 1 race here in Austria, he asked me to present his medal for him which I am pleased and honoured to do," Ecclestone continued.

"It was also great to be there, as though it might seem strange, this was the first time in almost 70 years in this sport that I’ve actually been on the podium! So, that was also nice .”