His racing career started in 1957, driving a borrowed Fiat 1100, before he achieved a class win at the Mille Miglia one year later.

He competed at seven Grands Prix in 1963 for both teams, amongst winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finishing runner-up at the 12 Hours of Sebring, driving the Ferrari 250 P. Bandini retained his seat at Ferrari in 1964, scoring his sole victory at the Austrian Grand Prix—amongst several further podiums—on his way to a career-best fourth in the World Drivers' Championship.

In 1961 Bandini and fellow Italian driver Giancarlo Baghetti were both in contention for a Formula One seat at Scuderia Ferrari.

[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.

At the Mexican Grand Prix, Bandini was running second when he decided to let his teammate John Surtees pass, enabling him to score enough points to win the World Championship.

He was unlucky not to win the French and U.S. Grands Prix that year which he dominated before mechanical problems struck while holding a huge lead.

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", actress Eva Marie Saint noted bitterly that this spot would be the site of Bandini's fatal accident in the race one year later.

On the entry to the harbour chicane on the 82nd lap he lost control of his open-wheel 312, its left rear wheel hit the guard rail, and sent it into an erratic skid.

Impacting a light pole, the car overturned,[5] collided with protective straw bales which lined the harbour, and trapped Bandini beneath it.

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.