Alan Jones, crowned Formula 1 world champion in 1980, has died at the age of 80, leaving behind the legacy of the last Australian to win the top category title.
Alan Jones will forever be etched in the history of global motorsport. The former Australian driver, crowned Formula 1 world champion in 1980 behind the wheel of his Williams, passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2026, just days after celebrating his 80th birthday. His passing marks the end of an era for Australian motorsport.
Born in Melbourne, Alan Jones made his mark on the sport with an exceptional career punctuated by 12 Grand Prix victories. His 1980 triumph remains a historic performance: he became the second and last Australian to win the drivers' world championship title, an achievement that still resonates worldwide today.
Beyond the statistics, Jones embodied a generation of determined and daring drivers. His relationship with the Williams team helped build the foundations of a team that would dominate Formula 1 in the decades to follow. His driving style, characterized by controlled aggression and keen race reading, inspired many successors.
His health had declined in recent years, a trial he endured with the same discretion that characterized his life off the circuits. Tributes are now pouring in from the world of motorsport, honoring a champion who carried his native country's colors high.
Born in Melbourne, Alan Jones made his mark on the sport with an exceptional career punctuated by 12 Grand Prix victories. His 1980 triumph remains a historic performance: he became the second and last Australian to win the drivers' world championship title, an achievement that still resonates worldwide today.
Beyond the statistics, Jones embodied a generation of determined and daring drivers. His relationship with the Williams team helped build the foundations of a team that would dominate Formula 1 in the decades to follow. His driving style, characterized by controlled aggression and keen race reading, inspired many successors.
His health had declined in recent years, a trial he endured with the same discretion that characterized his life off the circuits. Tributes are now pouring in from the world of motorsport, honoring a champion who carried his native country's colors high.
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Source: Ouest-France