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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, the current Formula One championship leader, has been awarded the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini Trophy ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
The Australian driver received the trophy for his performances in the 2024 F1 World Championship. The award, which was created in honor of Italian driver Lorenzo Bandini, is given to a driver, person, or team in F1 for "commendable performance in motorsport."
Reacting to the recognition, Piastri commented:
"This one is definitely special. It is a real privilege to accept this award. I know a lot of the history - Andrea Stella has told stories of Lorenzo Bandini.
"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."
He 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."
The McLaren driver also shared the moment on social media, writing: "Honoured to receive the Lorenzo Bandini trophy. Grazie a tutti!" The photos show him holding the incredible trophy, which is a ceramic replica of Bandini's Ferrari F1 car.
Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris won the award in 2023, joining the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, who received the award in 2004 and 2010. respectively.
The Woking outfit has had a strong start to the 2025 season, with Piastri and Norris leading the drivers' championship.
2025 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship: Current standings
1. Oscar Piastri, McLaren - 131 points
2. Lando Norris, McLaren - 115 points
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull - 99 points
4. George Russell, Mercedes - 93 points
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - 53 points
6. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes - 48 points
7. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari - 41 points
8. Alex Albon, Williams - 30 points
9. Esteban Ocon, Haas - 14 points
10. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin - 14 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull - 9 points
12. Pierre Gasly, Alpine - 7 points
13. Carlos Sainz, Williams - 7 points
14. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber - 6 points
15. Oliver Bearman, Haas - 6 points
16. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls - 5 points
17. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin - 0 points
18. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls - 0 points
19. Jack Doohan, Alpine - 0 points
20. Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber - 0 points
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About the writer
Lydia Mee is a contributing sports writer located in the West Midlands, England. Her focus is on F1 and NASCAR. ... Read more