The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend is yet to commence, but Oscar Piastri has already secured an accolade to cherish. The 24-year-old Australian has been honoured with the prestigious 2024 Lorenzo Bandini Trophy, recognising his exemplary achievements in Formula 1.
Piastri becomes the third Australian recipient of this award, following the legacies of Mark Webber in 2006 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2014. As a trophy inspired by Italian driver Lorenzo Bandini, who tragically lost his life following a severe crash during the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, this award highlights not only sporting success but also the recipient’s character and racing ethos.
Although the trophy may not be widely renowned outside of F1 circles, it holds significant prestige within the racing community. Upon receiving the trophy, Piastri expressed his gratitude, remarking on the honour of hearing the Australian national anthem at the presentation and connecting with individuals from his family’s heritage.
Since its inception in 1992, the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy has been awarded to an illustrious group of past winners, including world champions such as Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton. Notably, with the exceptions of Schumacher and Hamilton, most winners claimed the award before securing their first championship title.
Piastri was recognised for his outstanding performance in the 2024 season, notably clinching his first race and establishing himself as a serious contender for the championship. Heading into the Imola race weekend, he holds a 16-point lead in the standings, a remarkable achievement given that he was the highest points scorer during the same stretch of races last season, which featured wins in both Hungary and Azerbaijan.
The Imola weekend marks the start of the European leg of the championship, consisting of 11 races, and practice sessions kick off on Friday evening (AEST), with the main event set to take place at 11pm on Sunday.