Lorenzo Bandini | |
|---|---|
 Bandini in 1966 | |
| Born | (1935-12-21)21 December 1935 |
| Died | 10 May 1967(1967-05-10) (aged 31) Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Cause of death | Injuries sustained at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Active years | 1961–1967 |
| Teams | Centro Sud,Ferrari |
| Entries | 42 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 8 |
| Careerpoints | 58 |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
| First entry | 1961 Belgian Grand Prix |
| First win | 1964 Austrian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1967 Monaco Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1962–1966 |
| Teams | Ferrari |
| Best finish | 1st(1963) |
| Class wins | 1(1963) |
Lorenzo Bandini (21 December 1935 – 10 May 1967) was an Italianracing driver, who competed inFormula One from1961 to1967. Bandini won the1964 Austrian Grand Prix withFerrari. Inendurance racing, Bandini won the24 Hours of Le Mans in1963, as well as the24 Hours of Daytona in1967, both with Ferrari.
Born inLibya and raised inFlorence, Bandini was initially amechanic before competing inmotorcycle racing. His racing career started in 1957, driving a borrowedFiat 1100, before he achieved a class win at theMille Miglia one year later. He soon progressed toFormula Junior, where he attracted the attention ofEnzo Ferrari. Bandini made his Formula One debut in1961 withScuderia Centro Sud, before signing forFerrari thefollowing year. On debut for Ferrari, at theMonaco Grand Prix, Bandini finished third behindBruce McLaren and teammatePhil Hill, claiming his maiden podium finish. He competed at seven Grands Prix in1963 for both teams, amongst winning the24 Hours of Le Mans and finishing runner-up at the12 Hours of Sebring, driving theFerrari 250 P. Bandini retained his seat at Ferrari in1964, scoring his sole victory at theAustrian Grand Prix—amongst several further podiums—on his way to a career-best fourth in theWorld Drivers' Championship. He scored several podiums in his1965 and1966 campaigns, finishing the seasons in sixth and ninth, respectively.
During the1967 Monaco Grand Prix,Bandini was fatally injured when hisFerrari 312 overturned and caught fire. TheLorenzo Bandini Trophy was established in memorial of Bandini, honouring individuals and teams for achievements in Formula One since 1992.
Bandini was born inBarce inCyrenaica,Libya,[1][2] then an Italian colony. The family returned to Italy in 1939 and moved nearFlorence. His father died when he was 15. Bandini left home and found a job as an apprentice mechanic in the Freddi workshop inMilan.[2]
Bandini made his way into auto racing from competing on motorcycles.[3] He started racing cars in 1957 in a borrowedFiat 1100. Goliardo Freddi, acknowledging Bandini's talent, decided to support him.[2] Bandini would later marry Freddi's daughter, Margherita, in 1963, and remained involved with the family's garage in Milan.
He achieved a first class victory at theMille Miglia, in aLancia AppiaZagato, in 1958, and a class win the same year in the 500ccBerkeley in the 12-hour race atMonza. He then purchased aVolpiniFormula Junior car and placed third in his first race inSicily. In 1959 and 1960 he drove a Formula JuniorStanguellini. In 1960 he placed fourth in the Formula Junior World Championship.
In 1961 Bandini and fellow Italian driverGiancarlo Baghetti were both in contention for aFormula One seat atScuderia Ferrari. Ferrari opted for Baghetti, and Bandini went to drive for Guglielmo "Mimmo" Dei'sScuderia Centro Sud. At a non-championship race, he finished third atPau. Bandini drove his first world championship race atSpa later in 1961. He retired with engine failure. During the winter of 1961-1962 he drove in theTasman races inAustralia andNew Zealand.[2]
In 1962 Bandini was hired by Ferrari for the1962 and1963 seasons, and moved toMaranello, near the team's headquarters.[4] His debut in a worksFerrari at theMonaco Grand Prix, finishing third.
For 1963 Bandini was retained by Ferrari for sports car races only. Along withLudovico Scarfiotti, he wonthe Le Mans 24 Hours race and placed second in theTarga Florio that year, occasionally racing in Formula One forScuderia Centro Sud.[2] His string of good results, including a fifth place at the British Grand Prix, convinced Ferrari to retain him as a Formula One driver as well for the rest of the season.
In 1964 Bandini had his best Formula One season. He won the firstAustrian Grand Prix at theZeltweg circuit and scored two more podiums in Germany and Italy. At theMexican Grand Prix, Bandini was running second when he decided to let his teammateJohn Surtees pass, enabling him to score enough points to win theWorld Championship.
In 1965 Bandini wonthe Targa Florio.
In 1966 Surtees left Ferrari in mid-season. Bandini was promoted to team leader. He was unlucky not to win theFrench andU.S. Grands Prix that year which he dominated before mechanical problems struck while holding a huge lead. Bandini's best finish was a second place at theMonaco Grand Prix in a 2.4 liter V-6 Ferrari behindJackie Stewart's BRM. Later in the season Bandini helped directorJohn Frankenheimer with his movieGrand Prix. Bandini recommended the location at the harbour chicane for a crash scene in the movie filmed at the Monte Carlo circuit. In "The Making of Grand Prix", actressEva Marie Saint noted bitterly that this spot would be the site of Bandini's fatal accident in the race one year later.Grand Prix was praised for its realism of racing, to which Bandini played a big role. The movie won 3 Oscars.[5]
In 1967 Bandini won the24 Hours of Daytona and the1000 km of Monza, both teamed withChris Amon.
On 7 May 1967 Bandini was racing at theMonaco Grand Prix forScuderia Ferrari, running second toDenny Hulme. On the entry to the harbourchicane on the 82nd lap he lost control of hisopen-wheel312, its left rear wheel hit the guard rail, and sent it into an erratic skid. Impacting a light pole, the car overturned,[6] collided with protective straw bales which lined the harbour, and trapped Bandini beneath it.
Either sparks ignited fuel from a ruptured tank, or fuel leaked from it onto a hot brake line or exhaust pipe and it burst into flames. Bandini was pulled out, unconscious; a second fire occurred afterwards, due to reignition.[1]
Bandini, who had only ever had a minor accident in his racing career, during a 1957 Formula Junior race,[4] was gravely injured. Sustainingthird degree burns covering more than 70% of his body, a chest wound, and ten chest fractures,[6] he succumbed three days later at the Princess Grace Polyclinic Hospital inMonte Carlo. He was 31 years old.
Though concerns were raised about the promptness of his rescue, investigators from the Principality of Monaco ruled on 10 May that the security operation had "functioned properly."[3] Straw bales were immediately banned from all Formula One races, and replaced by an extended guard-rail in Monaco the following year.[7]
Bandini's funeral was held inReggiolo on 13 May.[8] 100,000 people attended.[9] He was later buried in the Lambrate cemetery, inMilan.[10]
Bandini is portrayed byFrancesco Bauco inFord v Ferrari, a 2019 film about the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at the1966 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | WDC | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Scuderia Centro Sud | CooperT53 | Maserati 6-1500 1.5L4 | MON | NED | BEL Ret | FRA | GBR 12 | GER Ret | ITA 8 | USA | NC | 0 | ||||
| 1962 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari156 | Ferrari 178 1.5V6 | NED | MON 3 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER Ret | ITA 8 | USA | RSA | 12th | 4 | |||
| 1963 | Scuderia Centro Sud | BRMP57 | BRM P56 1.5V8 | MON | BEL | NED | FRA 10 | GBR 5 | GER Ret | 10th | 6 | ||||||
| Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari156 | Ferrari 178 1.5V6 | ITA Ret | USA 5 | MEX Ret | RSA 5 | |||||||||||
| 1964 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari156 | Ferrari 178 1.5V6 | MON 10 | GBR 5 | GER 3 | AUT 1 | 4th | 23 | ||||||||
| Ferrari158 | Ferrari 205B 1.5V8 | NED Ret | BEL Ret | FRA 9 | ITA 3 | ||||||||||||
| North American Racing Team | Ferrari1512 | Ferrari 207 1.5F12 | USA Ret | MEX 3 | |||||||||||||
| 1965 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari1512 | Ferrari 207 1.5F12 | RSA 15 | MON 2 | BEL 9 | FRA 8 | ITA 4 | USA 4 | MEX 8 | 6th | 13 | |||||
| Ferrari158 | Ferrari 205B 1.5V8 | GBR Ret | NED 9 | GER 6 | |||||||||||||
| 1966 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari246 | Ferrari 228 2.4V6 | MON 2 | BEL 3 | 9th | 12 | ||||||||||
| Ferrari312/66 | Ferrari 218 3.0V12 | FRA NC | GBR | NED 6 | GER 6 | ITA Ret | USA Ret | MEX | |||||||||
| 1967 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari312/67 | Ferrari 242 3.0V12 | RSA | MON Ret | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | CAN | ITA | USA | MEX | NC | 0 | |
Source:[11] | |||||||||||||||||
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)(Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Scuderia Centro Sud | CooperT53 | Maserati 6-1500 1.5L4 | LOM | GLV | PAU 3 | BRX | VIE | AIN | SYR 7 | NAP 3 | LON | SIL | SOL | KAN | DAN | MOD Ret | FLG DNS | ||||||
| CooperT51 | FLG NC | OUL | LEW | VAL | RAN | NAT | RSA | |||||||||||||||||
| 1962 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari156 | Ferrari 178 1.5V6 | CAP | BRX | LOM | LAV | GLV | PAU 5 | AIN | INT | NAP 2 | MAL | CLP | RMS | SOL | KAN | MED 1 | DAN | OUL | MEX | RAN | NAT | |
| 1963 | Scuderia Centro Sud | CooperT53 | Maserati 6-1500 1.5L4 | LOM | GLV | PAU | IMO Ret | SYR Ret | AIN | |||||||||||||||
| BRMP57 | BRM P56 1.5V8 | INT DSQ | ROM | SOL 4 | KAN | MED 3 | AUT | OUL | ||||||||||||||||
| Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari156 | Ferrari 178 1.5V6 | RAN 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1964 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari156 | Ferrari 178 1.5V6 | DMT | NWT | SYR 2 | AIN | INT | SOL Ret | MED | RAN | |||||||||||||
| 1965 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari1512 | Ferrari 207 1.5F12 | ROC | SYR 3 | SMT | INT 7 | MED | RAN | |||||||||||||||
| 1966 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari246 | Ferrari 228 2.4V6 | RSA | SYR 2 | INT | OUL | |||||||||||||||||
| 1967 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari312/67 | Ferrari 242 3.0V12 | ROC 2 | SPC | INT | SYR | OUL | ESP | |||||||||||||||
Source:[11] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | SEFAC Ferrari |  Mike Parkes | Ferrari 330 LMB | E+3.0 | 56 | DNF (Radiator) | |
| 1963 | SpAFerrari SEFAC | Ludovico Scarfiotti | Ferrari 250 P | P3.0 | 339 | 1st | 1st |
| 1964 | SpAFerrari SEFAC | John Surtees | Ferrari 330 P | P4.0 | 337 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1965 | SpAFerrari SEFAC | Giampiero Biscaldi | Ferrari 275 P2 | P4.0 | 221 | DNF (Valves) | |
| 1966 | SpAFerrari SEFAC |  Jean Guichet | Ferrari 330 P3 | P5.0 | 226 | DNF (Engine) | |
Source:[12] | |||||||
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | S.E.F.A.C.Ferrari |  Willy MairesseNino Vaccarella | Ferrari 250 P | P3.0 | 208 | 2nd | 2nd |
| S.E.F.A.C.Ferrari | Mike Parkes | Ferrari 330 LMB | P+3.0 | 72 | DNF (Split fuel tank) | ||
| 1964 | S.E.F.A.C.Ferrari | John Surtees | Ferrari 330 P | P+3.0 | 212 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1966 | SpAFerrari SEFAC | Ludovico Scarfiotti | Ferrari Dino 206 S | P2.0 | 206 | 5th | 2nd |
Source:[12] | |||||||
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Ferrari SpA |  Chris Amon | Ferrari 330 P3/4 | P+2.0 | 666 | 1st | 1st |
Source:[12] | |||||||
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1963 With:Ludovico Scarfiotti | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Formula One fatal accidents 7 May 1967 (Date of accident) 10 May 1967 (Date of death) | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
