Sports · Motorsport · 27 mins ago
1980 Formula One champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
Australian racing driver Alan Jones has died aged 80 after a short illness.
Born in Melbourne, he celebrated his 80th birthday just days before his death.
Jones won the 1980 Formula One world championship with Williams, becoming the second Australian to take the drivers’ title after Jack Brabham.
His five wins that season gave Williams its first drivers’ world championship.
No Australian has won the title since, despite later grand prix winners including Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri.
Jones made 116 Formula One starts and took 12 victories before retiring from the sport in 2002.
Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula One world champion, has died aged 80.
Jones won 12 Formula One grands prix and was the second Australian to win the drivers’ world title.
He won the title with Williams in 1980, taking five grand prix victories that season.
Mark Webber paid tribute to Jones, calling him a “warrior” and a “character”.
Speedcafe reported that Jones died after a short illness, while the Daily Mail said Nine.com.au reported he had been diagnosed with cancer weeks earlier.
- Who
- Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula One world champion.
- What
- He died aged 80.
- When
- Reported on November 5, 2026. He had turned 80 on Monday.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated. Speedcafe reported he died after a short illness; the Daily Mail said Nine.com.au reported he had been diagnosed with cancer weeks earlier.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jones moved to Europe to pursue his motor racing career.
Jones made his Formula One debut with Hesketh.
Jones claimed his first Formula One win at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Jones won the Formula One world title with Williams, with one race remaining.
Jones retired from racing.
News outlets reported that Jones had died aged 80.
- Age at death
- 80
- World title
- 1980, with Williams
- Career grand prix wins
- 12
- 1980 grand prix wins
- 5
- First Formula One win
- 1977 Austrian Grand Prix
- Retirement
- 1986
10 sources
‘A sad day’: Mark Webber mourns F1 ‘warrior’ Alan Jones
Australian F1 legend and first Williams champion Alan Jones dies
Australian F1 world champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
Tributes flow for Aussie F1 legend Alan Jones
Aussie F1 racing legend Alan Jones dies after short illness battle
Breaking: Australian racing icon and F1 world champion Alan Jones dies
1980 F1 world champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
What people are saying
It’s a sad day for Australian motorsport
A warrior I’d say. A warrior and a character gone, and he made his presence felt for our country.