Australian Formula One champion Alan Jones died on 5 November 2026, aged 80, after a short illness. His family announced his death, and his wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, released a statement that day.
Career and championship
Born in Melbourne in 1946, Jones won the 1980 Formula One World Championship with the Williams team. He was the second Australian to win the drivers’ title, after Jack Brabham, and remains the last Australian champion. His Formula One career ran from 1975 to 1986, yielding 12 Grand Prix victories and 24 podium finishes.
Tributes and honours
Jones died three days after his 80th birthday on 2 November. His family’s statement noted his dedication to motorsport and the lasting mark he made on the sport globally. He was inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Nine reported that he had been diagnosed with cancer only weeks before his death.
Important Facts for Exams
- 1980 championship scoring rules: In 1980, drivers retained only their best five results from each half of the season; points were 9–6–4–3–2–1 for the top six.
- Williams’ first titles: Williams secured its first Formula One constructors’ title in 1980, the same season Jones delivered the team’s first drivers’ championship.
- Brabham’s namesake car: Jack Brabham remains the sole driver to win the Formula One World Championship in a car bearing his own name, achieving it in 1966.
