Alan Jones, 1980 Formula 1 champion for Williams, dies aged 80
The first driver to win a world title for Williams, Jones passed away after a short illness, his family said.
Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula 1 world champion and the first driver to deliver a drivers' title for the Williams team, has died at the age of 80, his family announced on 5 November 2026.
In a statement his wife Amanda said: "It is with great sadness that we inform the public that our beloved Alan has passed away. He will be greatly missed by his closest family, who will remember him with love, and by numerous fans, whose support always meant a lot to him."
Jones died after a short illness, the family statement added.
Career and achievements
Born in 1946 in Melbourne, Jones claimed the Formula 1 world title in 1980 and became the first driver to win the championship for Williams. Over the course of his F1 career he recorded 12 race victories and stood on the podium 24 times.
He was the second — and so far the most recent — Australian to win the Formula 1 drivers' championship.
Jones was inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame and is a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Photo: Printskrin\/Jutub
