Alan Jones Dies Aged 80 After Short Illness
Alan Jones dies aged 80 after a short illness, his family confirmed on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The former Formula One world champion had celebrated his 80th birthday on Monday, three days before his death. He was Australia’s second world champion and the first driver to win the title with Williams.
A statement released on behalf of his wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, confirmed the news. “We are extremely saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Alan, who passed away on November 5 after a short illness,” the statement said. Motorsport Australia released the statement. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation also paid tribute and said Jones held a special place in the history of the sport.
Jones won the Formula One world championship in 1980 with Williams. He remains the last Australian to win the title. He was also the last Australian to win his home grand prix, which he did in 1980 at Calder Park in Melbourne, when the race was not part of the world championship. Reuters reported the death after the family statement was released.
Alan Jones dies aged 80, leaving a Williams legacy
Jones was born in Melbourne on 2 November 1946. His father, Stan Jones, was a racing driver who won the Australian Grand Prix in 1959. Alan moved to Britain in 1970 to chase a Formula One seat. He made his debut with Hesketh at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. His first win came with Shadow at the Austrian Grand Prix in 1977.
He joined Williams in 1978. The move changed his career. He finished third in the championship in 1979 after winning four grands prix that season. In 1980 he won five races and finished on the podium in all but one of the grands prix he completed. He beat Brazil’s Nelson Piquet to the title. The crown was the first drivers’ championship for Williams, and Jones also helped the team to its first constructors’ title that year.
Across ten seasons in Formula One, from 1975 to 1986, Jones won 12 grands prix and stood on the podium 24 times in 116 starts. He retired from the sport in 1986 and moved into broadcasting, where he stayed close to motorsport for decades.
Why Alan Jones mattered to Australian motorsport
Jones was only the second Australian to win the Formula One world title, after triple champion Sir Jack Brabham. Brabham won his titles in 1959, 1960 and 1966. No Australian has won the championship since Jones. He is one of only five Australians to win a grand prix, alongside Brabham, Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri.
The Australian Grand Prix said his 1980 championship inspired a generation of Australian motorsport fans. “His victory at the Australian Grand Prix that same year remains the last time an Australian driver has won their home Grand Prix,” it said. “He leaves an extraordinary legacy in Australian motorsport and will be deeply missed by the motorsport community around the world.”
Motor Sport magazine marked his 80th birthday this week by calling him Formula One’s most underrated world champion. The label fits a driver known for plain speaking and hard racing rather than show.
What happens next
Tributes have come from across motorsport, from Williams to the Australian Grand Prix and former rivals. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Jones is survived by his wife Amanda and his children Christian, Amber, Zara, Jack, Camilla and Emma.
His death closes a link to a different era of Formula One, when drivers raced with far less protection and teams were smaller. Williams went on to win six more drivers’ titles after Jones, but he was the first. In Australia his 1980 season still stands as the high point for a local driver in the sport’s top class.
Feature Pakistan has followed a busy week in world sport, from the Champions League results to the Paris Masters and the heavyweight boxing scene. Nadal’s move onto the Real Madrid board was another reminder that sporting greats rarely leave the game behind.
Frequently asked questions
How old was Alan Jones when he died?
He was 80. He was born on 2 November 1946 in Melbourne and died on 5 November 2026, three days after his 80th birthday.
When did Alan Jones win the Formula One world title?
He won it in 1980 with Williams. He was the first Williams driver to win the drivers’ championship and the second Australian to win it, after Jack Brabham.
How many grands prix did Alan Jones win?
He won 12 grands prix in 116 starts between 1975 and 1986. He also finished on the podium 24 times. Five of his wins came in his title season of 1980.
Is Alan Jones still the last Australian Formula One champion?
Yes. No Australian has won the drivers’ championship since 1980. He was also the last Australian to win the Australian Grand Prix, at Calder Park in 1980.
