Magnussen picks up prestigious Lorenzo Bandini Trophy

Haas charger Kevin Magnussen was the recipient on Sunday in Faenza of the prestigious Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini that rewards a driver or a team's outstanding achievements during a season.

Named after the legendary Ferrari driver who perished in Monaco in 1967, the Bandini Trophy was handed to Magnussen for his efforts in his comeback F1 season with Haas.

Magnussen was forced to depart the grid at the end of 2020 and had migrated to the United States to open a new chapter in his career when he was called back to F1 at the last hour by Haas team boss Guenther Steiner.

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The US outfit had severed ties with Russian sponsor Uralkali and pay driver Nikita Mazepin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and offered Magnussen to return to the fray which the Dane readily accepted, the 30-year-old finishing a remarkable fifth on Haas’ opening race of the 2022 season in Bahrain.

Magnussen was present at Faenza along with Steiner to receive a ceramic copy of the prestigious sculpture of Bandini’s 1967 Ferrari created by Italian artist Goffredo Gaeta.

“I’m very honoured to receive the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy, a local hero who enjoyed very good results with Ferrari,” said Magnussen.

“And when I think of all the great champions that have received this award in the past, it’s hard to understand why it was given to me…”

Indeed, previous winners of the Bandini Trophy include F1 World Champions Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Max Verstappen and Nico Rosberg, while former Ferrari boss Luca Di Montezemolo and Scuderia charger Charles Leclerc have also been handed the award that was initiated in 1992 by Bandini’s widow Margherita.

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