Former Formula One world champion Alan Jones died on Thursday, November 5, 2026, aged 80, after a short illness — just three days after celebrating his 80th birthday on November 2.
Jones won the 1980 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship with Williams, becoming the first Williams driver to win the title and only the second Australian champion after Sir Jack Brabham.
He won five Grands Prix in the 1980 season — in Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and the United States — to beat Brazilian Nelson Piquet to the crown, and won 12 Grands Prix across his career.
Jones remains Australia’s last Formula One world champion and the last Australian driver to win the Australian Grand Prix, which he won at Calder Park in 1980.
His family announced his death in a statement released through Motorsport Australia. His wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, said he would be dearly missed by family and fans.
Born in Melbourne in 1946, the son of racing driver Stan Jones, he was awarded an MBE for services to motor racing in 1980 and inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.