Formula One news

Vettel collects Bandini trophy in F1 car

Sebastian Vettel travelled in style en route to collecting the Lorenzo Bandini trophy on Monday. The German, who was awarded the trophy of 2009 as a result of his sporting achievements last year, collected the prize in Italy after driving to the village of Brisighella in his 2008 Toro Rosso Formula One car.

Star of the year in 2008, Vettel drove to a superb pole position and race win in the wet at Monza before moving to sister team Red Bull Racing for the start of this season. Dedicated to Italian Bandini, who tragically lost his life in a fiery crash at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, Vettel drove the F1 car for 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) on public roads, equipped with Bridgestone's wet tyres.

Vettel stunned the F1 world with a pole and win in Italy last September

Making the trip to the town from Toro Rosso's Faenza factory, Vettel enjoyed a boy racer's dream of using open public roads in his F1 racer, overtaking 'slower' cars with the assistance of a police escort.

On collecting the trophy, the 21-year-old was greeted by a selection of local famous figures as well as the mayor of Heppenheim, who had made his way from Sebastian's home town; from him Vettel received personalised car number plates reading 'HPSV1'.

After a crash in the Monaco Grand Prix eight days ago, Vettel currently lies third in the championship and 28 points behind leader Jenson Button's Brawn.

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