Lorenzo Bandini’s name may not be the first to appear in Ferrari’s history books, but his story captures Ferrari’s golden era in the 1960s.
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Bandini’s formative years
Lorenzo Bandini was born in Barce, Cyrenaica, Libya in 1935. In 1939, his family moved to Firenze, Italy. The war years were difficult, and he lost both of his parents during that time. Left on his own at a young age, he had to begin working early in life.
He found a job as an apprentice mechanic in Milan at a workshop owned by Goliardo Freddi. This job would become a turning point in his life. Freddi not only supported his future racing ambitions, but his daughter, Margherita, later became Bandini’s wife in 1963.
Bandini began racing in 1957. His first event was the Castelli Arquato-Verneasca hill climb, where he drove a Fiat 1100 and finished 15th in his class. In 1958, he made real progress. He won his class at the Mille Miglia driving a Lancia Appia Zagato and claimed another class win in a 500cc Berkeley during the 12-hour race at Monza.
In 1959 and 1960, Bandini continued in Formula Junior, this time driving a Stanguellini. His consistency paid off, and he finished fourth in the Formula Junior World Championship in 1960.
In 1961, Formula 1 introduced new regulations limiting engine capacity to 1500cc. This change worked in Ferrari’s favour, as their V6 engines were now more competitive than the four-cylinder engines used by most British teams. Ferrari entered three drivers for the 1961 season: Phil Hill, Wolfgang von Trips, and Richie Ginther.
The Italian motorsport authority, FISA, wanted to feature an additional Italian driver. They requested Ferrari enter a fourth car under the Sant’Ambroeus Team banner. Giancarlo Baghetti was selected for that seat.
At the same time, Mimmo Dei, head of Scuderia Centro Sud, brought Bandini into the Formula 1 scene. Bandini drove a Cooper T51 with a Maserati engine. His debut season was challenging. He had retirements in Belgium and Germany, finished 12th in the British Grand Prix, and placed 8th in Italy. He did not score any points during the 1961 season.
Still, this marked his first step into Formula 1, and the foundation was laid for what would become a defining relationship with Ferrari.
Relationship with Ferrari
In 1962, Lorenzo Bandini joined the Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari. He moved to Maranello, placing himself near the heart of the company’s operations.
His first time driving a Ferrari in competition came on 23 April 1962 at the Pau Grand Prix, a non-championship Formula 1 race held on the narrow street circuit in Pau, France. Behind the wheel of the Ferrari 156, Bandini completed 99 demanding laps and crossed the line in fifth place.
A few weeks later, on 3 June 1962, he made his official Formula 1 World Championship debut for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix. There, he impressed with a third-place finish, coming in just behind his teammate Phil Hill.
That same summer, Bandini also made his first start in sports car racing with Ferrari. On 23 and 24 June 1962, he entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, sharing a Ferrari 330 LMB with British driver Mike Parkes. Unfortunately, their race ended early when a radiator issue forced them to retire on lap 56. The overall victory went to Olivier Gendebien and Phil Hill in a Ferrari 330 TRI/LM.
Olivier Gendebien
His performance across both disciplines didn’t go unnoticed. Ferrari continued to back him, keeping him on as a driver for both Formula 1 and sports car racing.
Triumphs with Ferrari
In 1962, Bandini had claimed his first Formula 1 race win, although it came in a non-championship event. The win took place at the Mediterranean Grand Prix at the Autodromo di Pergusa in Sicily. Driving for Ferrari, he finished more than 30 seconds ahead of Giancarlo Baghetti, who was also in a Ferrari.
Lorenzo Bandini returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963, this time driving the Ferrari 250 P alongside Ludovico Scarfiotti. Ferrari had already dominated this race in 1960, 1961, and 1962 and they arrived that year aiming to extend their winning streak. The car shared by Bandini and Scarfiotti quickly took control of the race and maintained the lead throughout. Ferrari locked out the top six positions, with three 250 Ps leading the field followed by several GTOs. The victory marked Ferrari’s fourth consecutive win at Le Mans and their seventh overall.
In endurance racing, Bandini continued to perform well. At the 1963 Targa Florio, he finished second overall in the Ferrari 196 SP, teaming up with Ludovico Scarfiotti and Willy Mairesse. The demanding Sicilian road race showed his ability to handle both speed and endurance over long distances.
During the same year, Bandini also drove in Formula One races for Scuderia Centro Sud. He piloted a Cooper T53 with a Maserati engine but was forced to retire from two races. The team later ran a BRM P57 with a V8 engine, and Bandini managed to finish 10th in France, 5th in Great Britain and retired again in Germany. In non-championship races that year, he was disqualified at the BRDC International Trophy, finished fourth at the Solitude Grand Prix near Stuttgart, and took third at the Mediterranean Grand Prix.
The 1964 season would prove to be his strongest in Formula One. Bandini won the first Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg, becoming one of the few drivers who have won a Formula 1 race with Ferrari. He secured two more podium finishes in Germany and Italy. At the season-ending Mexican Grand Prix, Bandini was running in second position when he allowed teammate John Surtees to pass. This move helped Surtees score the points he needed to win the World Championship and Bandini’s sportsmanship became one of the most talked-about moments of the season. Bandini scored 23 points and finished fourth in the driver standings.
In 1965, Bandini claimed victory at the Targa Florio, this time driving a Ferrari 275 P2 with Nino Vaccarella as his co-driver. The demanding nature of the race and the fierce competition made the win even more significant.
The following year, 1966, saw a shift in the Ferrari lineup after John Surtees left the team mid-season. Bandini stepped into the role of team leader. That year, he was on pace to win both the French and United States Grands Prix but had to retire from both while leading due to mechanical issues. His best result that season came at the Monaco Grand Prix, where he finished second in a 2.4-liter V6 Ferrari behind Jackie Stewart’s BRM.
In 1967, Bandini continued to perform strongly in endurance racing. He teamed up with Chris Amon to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and in doing so created one of the most iconic racing pictures. He followed that with a win at the 1000 km of Monza. Both victories came while driving for Ferrari.
Lorenzo Bandini's legacy
Outside the car, Lorenzo Bandini was involved in the production of the 1966 film Grand Prix, directed by John Frankenheimer. He assisted the filmmakers with racing advice and helped make the film more accurate in its portrayal of the sport. One of his suggestions was to use the harbour chicane at Monte Carlo for a crash scene. Actress Eva Marie Saint later noted that the same section of track became the site of Bandini’s fatal crash the following year. The film later won three Academy Awards.
On 7 May 1967, Bandini took part in the Monaco Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari. He was running in second place behind Denny Hulme when, on the 82nd lap, he lost control of his Ferrari 312 while entering the harbour chicane.
The car’s left rear wheel struck the guardrail, which caused the car to spin, hit a light pole, and flip over into the straw bales lining the harbour. The car landed upside down, trapping Bandini underneath. A fire broke out almost immediately. Marshals pulled him out after several minutes, but a second fire reignited shortly after.
The crash left him with third-degree burns over most of his body, along with chest injuries and multiple fractures. He was taken to the Princess Grace Polyclinic Hospital in Monte Carlo but passed away from his injuries three days later, on 10 May 1967. He was 31 years old.
His funeral was held in Reggiolo on 13 May. An estimated 100,000 people attended. He was buried in the Lambrate cemetery in Milan.
As a result of the crash, straw bales were no longer used as barriers in Formula One races. In Monaco, they were replaced the following year with extended guardrails at the harbour section.
Over the course of his Formula 1 career, he entered 42 races, scored a total of 58 points across 6 seasons, and secured 2 race wins and 16 podium finishes for Ferrari. In endurance racing, he competed at Le Mans five times with Ferrari, recording three retirements, one overall victory, and a third-place class finish. He also entered the 24 Hours of Daytona once, taking the overall win on his debut.
Since 1992, the city of Brisighella has awarded the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy. It is presented to a driver or team member who has shown outstanding talent or achievement in motorsport.
Photo: Verstappen.com
Recipients have included Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Charles Leclerc. The award is not based on statistics alone but also considers attitude, conduct, and contributions to the sport. The trophy is a ceramic replica of Bandini's Ferrari 312/67 with the number 18.
Lorenzo Bandini is remembered for his dedication to racing and the important role he played during a key period in Ferrari’s history, both in Formula 1 and sports car racing.
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