Oscar Piastri has been honoured with the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini Trophy for his performances in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.

Each year, the trophy is awarded to a driver, person or team in Formula 1 for "commendable performance in motorsport".

It was established in 1992 in honour of Italian driver Lorenzo Bandini, who passed away three days after suffering a major accident in the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix.

The winner is selected by a panel of 12 judges, consisting of former F1 team members and motor racing journalists, and honoured at a ceremony ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in nearby Brisighella.

The trophy, which can only be won once, is a ceramic replica of Bandini’s Ferrari Formula 1 car, adorned with his racing number 18. The Italian was only 31 when he passed away, but had enjoyed a successful career, winning the 1964 Austrian Grand prix with Ferrari, as well as the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. On his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari in 1962, the Italian finished third behind our founder, Bruce McLaren.

“This one is definitely special,” Oscar said. “It is a real privilege to accept this award. I know a lot of the history - Andrea Stella has told stories of Lorenzo Bandini.

 

          View this post on Instagram                      

A post shared by Oscar Piastri (@oscarpiastri)

“The award is very special, in terms of what the trophy itself means and also what Lorenzo means to people, but it is also special because of the reception here, with so many fans [in attendance]. I knew about the racing heritage in this part of the world, but I don’t think I appreciated just how passionate everybody is until today. It has been a fun day.”

Lando is also among the previous winners, with our British racing star receiving the award in 2023. Kimi Räikkönen (2004) and Lewis Hamilton (2010) both won the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy during their time at McLaren. Oscar is the third Australian to win the award, after Mark Webber in 2006 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2014.

Oscar, who has Italian heritage on his father’s side of the family, added: “I am very much Australian, but I am Italian in some ways, and today I have been able to meet some people from my family’s hometown, many generations ago, where the Piastri name is from, which has been a really special experience.”

Oscar enjoyed a remarkable second season in Formula 1, claiming his first two victories in Hungary and Azerbaijan, which helped McLaren win the Constructors’ Championship for the first time in 26 years. 

The 24-year-old has gone up another level in 2025, claiming his first two Poles and becoming the first McLaren driver to win three consecutive races since Mika Häkkinen in 1998.