Alan Jones death: 1980 F1 champion dies at 80 in Australia on Thursday By Luís Henrique Costa
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The 1980 Formula 1 world champion Alan Jones died on Thursday, 5 November 2026, at the age of 80 in Australia. His wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, confirmed the death in a statement, and the family said he died after a short illness. Jones had turned 80 on Monday, 2 November.
Australian media reports had described a recent cancer diagnosis, but the family has not detailed the cause of death. Jones leaves his wife and six children.
Jones built one of the most important careers in motorsport by winning the world title for Williams in 1980. He became the second Australian to be crowned world champion, after the three-time champion Jack Brabham, and he remains the last Australian driver to lift the trophy.
Williams claims first drivers’ title with five wins in 1980
The 1980 season was the peak of his career. Driving for the team founded by Frank Williams, he won five races: Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and the United States. That run secured the title with one race to spare and gave Williams its first drivers’ championship in Formula 1 history.
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Jones also won the 1980 Australian Grand Prix at Calder Park, before the race became part of the official world championship calendar. No local driver has won the national race since then. He also beat Nelson Piquet to the drivers’ title that year.
Across a career in the top category of motorsport during the 1970s and 1980s, he collected notable results against stars such as Nelson Piquet, Carlos Reutemann and Didier Pironi.
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Career totals across 116 Formula 1 starts
- 116 Formula 1 starts
- 12 grand prix wins
- 24 podiums
- Six pole positions
- 13 fastest laps
Tributes from the paddock highlighted his aggressive driving style and the technical leadership that helped turn Williams into a global force. Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali called him a true great of the sport, and Williams said he set the standard for its champions.
