Former F1 champion Alan Jones dies aged 80

sportsNov 5, 202650236

Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula One world champion, has died aged 80 after a short illness, his wife Amanda Butler-Davis said in a statement released by Motorsport Australia. Jones raced in F1 between 1975 and 1986, starting 116 grands prix and winning 12 races. He became the first Williams driver to win a world title when he claimed the 1980 championship with five victories that season, finishing ahead of Nelson Piquet. Jones was the second Australian to win the drivers' championship after Jack Brabham and remains the most recent Australian to win the Australian Grand Prix, taking the 1980 race at Calder Park when it was not part of the world championship. He recorded his final Grand Prix victory in Las Vegas in 1981 and retired from full-time F1 at the end of that season. After brief returns with Arrows in 1983 and with Haas in 1985, 86, Jones continued competing in touring car and endurance events in Australia and worked as a motorsports television pundit until racing competitively into 2002.

Matt Bishop 🏳️‍🌈 🏁

@thebishf1.bsky.social

I have extremely sad & shocking news: 2 days ago I wrote a @motor-sport.bsky.social column about Alan Jones, the ’80 #F1 world champion, in celebration of his 80th birthday. Today we’re waking up to news that he’s just died: very sad indeed. #RIPAlanJones www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/sin...

976h ago

Chris Bloom4

That's very sad. My first F1 hero. I got to meet him very briefly at the 2007 or 2008 Durban A1 GP.

NGAutoArt3

Bugger. May he rest in peace.

Adam Brown2

Sad news. I’m not sure we get the Williams we got if we didn’t have Jones in the car at that time

𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕪 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕫𝕖𝕝𝕝, 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘻 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘻, 𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘩𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 🔔2

One of the greats of Formula 1, saw him race at Brands Hatch when the track held Grand Prix’ (Wish they still did).

Chris Lepkowski1

This is a lovely piece Matt. Especially poignant this morning

Stone Kicker1

That's sad, met him back in the early eighties, impressive guy.

Quoting this

Chris Lepkowski2

A brilliant driver. A champion, during a period of great drivers.

Chris Bloom2

My first F1 hero 😢

Formula 1

@f1tv.bsky.social

We are very saddened to hear of the passing of World Champion Alan Jones. ‘Jonesy’ made his first F1 entrance at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix with the Hesketh squad before going on to claim the title in 1980 alongside Frank Williams at his team. A fierce racer and competitive spirit Rest In Peace

331h ago

Formula One History

@f1history1950.bsky.social

Incredibly saddened to hear of Alan Jones passing. Today we remember our 1980 Formula One World Champion who died #OnThisDay 5 November 2026, aged 80. #f1 #formula1

213h ago

MsPraxis

@mspraxis.bsky.social

Confusing having two well-known men called Alan Jones, particularly when one has been in the news a lot lately, and hearing one has died. The car AJ, seems to have been a decent sort, so vale to him. Wasn't sure for a moment there!

214h ago

Luke Foley2

Yeah at first I got excited that it was the perverted sex pest one but alas, it was the other one who seemed to be a decent fella. RIP.

Carolyn Gilholme2

He was a good fast driver, not like the chauffeured one in his Bentley.

Tim Byrne2

I think at last count there were something like six famous guys called Paul Kelly.

Obsessive Compulsive1

I'm happy for 2GB Alan Jones to hang around and cop his right whack

Andrew Benson

@andrewbensonf1.bsky.social

Alan Jones, 1980 F1 world champion, dies aged 80 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formul...

152h ago

nicola

@gleanniucha.bsky.social

Alan Jones 🏁 1946 - 2026 116 race starts 24 podiums 12 wins F1 World Champion 1980

63h ago

dunkingdad.bsky.social

@dunkingdad.bsky.social

very sad about Alan Jones. growing up in suburban Melbourne in the 80s, his music taught me that it was ok to be weird

48h ago

bystander1.bsky.social

@bystander1.bsky.social

"For more than 50 years, Australia’s talkback stars have commanded enormous audiences, often wielding them with devastating effect. Former 2GB host Alan Jones, who is now facing a criminal trial in NSW over allegations of indecent assault, could “change state and federal politics”, .."

2Yesterday