Before Oscar Piastri had even driven a meter in Imola, he was already awarded a prestigious prize. In the run-up to the Emilia-Romagna GP, the Australian received the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy. The award often goes to Formula 1 drivers, primarily for their performance on the track, but also for their conduct off it. Max Verstappen preceded Piastri in this regard; he won the trophy in 2016.
On Wednesday, Oscar Piastri received the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in Brisighella, a village in Emilia-Romagna. The award is a ceramic artwork of the Ferrari 312/67, the car with which Bandini dominated the championship in 1967. The prize, established in 1992, has been awarded to an Australian twice before – Mark Webber in 2006 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2014. Max Verstappen received the award in 2016.
Lorenzo Bandini
A jury of twelve motorsport journalists and former Formula 1 team members determine who receives the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy. Generally, it is awarded to drivers who demonstrate good conduct, strong character, and exceptional racing skills. The award is, of course, named after Formula 1 driver Lorenzo Bandini. The Italian drove forty-two Grands Prix between 1962 and 1967. He won a race once and finished on the podium eight times. He died in 1967 from injuries sustained in a crash during the Monaco GP.
“I am honored to receive the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy,” Oscar Piastri responded on social media. “Grazie a tutti!” In the run-up to the Emilia-Romagna GP, the 24-year-old driver leads the championship. Piastri has won the last three Grands Prix in a row, extending his lead over teammate Lando Norris to sixteen points. Last season, he finished fourth in Imola. The race was cancelled in his debut year due to severe flooding in the region.
