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Reaction to death of Australian F1 world champion Jones
Former Formula One world champion Alan Jones has died aged 80, prompting tributes from teams and figures across the sport. Williams said he was instrumental in building the team and remembered him as a defining figure in its history.
Jones won the 1980 Drivers’ Championship with Williams, which also secured its first Constructors’ title that year. He made his F1 debut in 1975 and won the Australian Grand Prix in 1980, the last time an Australian driver has won the home race; he had turned 80 on Monday.
In short
- Alan Jones, Australia’s 1980 F1 world champion, has died aged 80.
- He helped Williams win its first drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
- His 1980 Australian Grand Prix victory remains the last by a home driver.
Explained simply
Formula One is the highest level of international single-seat motor racing. Drivers compete for the Drivers’ Championship, while teams compete for the Constructors’ Championship, based on points earned across a season.
Alan Jones was an Australian driver who made his Formula One debut in 1975. He joined Williams and won the Drivers’ Championship in 1980, the same year the team claimed its first Constructors’ title.
Williams became one of the sport’s best-known teams, and Jones is remembered as an important figure in its early success. His 1980 win at the Australian Grand Prix remains the last time an Australian driver has won that race.