STORY OF THE DAY: Bandini takes second after Monaco’s changing battle

Lorenzo Bandini finished second in the 1965 Monaco Grand Prix in Ferrari number 17, behind Graham Hill’s BRM. The World Championship race changed repeatedly as Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham and the two Ferraris encountered difficulties or exchanged positions. Bandini’s result was his best finish of the season and his second consecutive Monaco podium.

Bandini inherited the lead after Hill was delayed by a spin and briefly appeared capable of giving Ferrari victory. Brabham then passed him before retiring with engine failure, restoring Ferrari to the leading positions. Hill’s forceful recovery ultimately carried him past both Bandini and John Surtees, leaving the Italian to secure a valuable second place.

The Ferrari 512 F1 used a 1.5-litre flat-twelve engine, a layout intended to provide strong power and a low centre of gravity. Its tightly packaged rear-mounted power unit distinguished it from Ferrari’s V8-engined 158, which the team also used at Monaco. The two designs reflected Maranello’s parallel search for the best solution at the end of the 1.5-litre era.

Lorenzo Bandini was born in the Italian colony of Libya and grew up in Italy, where he established himself in junior racing before joining Ferrari. He won the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ludovico Scarfiotti and the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix for the Scuderia. At Monaco in 1965, his measured drive confirmed both his adaptability and his importance to Ferrari’s Formula One team.