Home / Sports / Racing Icon Alex Zanardi Dies at 59
Racing Icon Alex Zanardi Dies at 59
2 May
Summary
- Former F1 driver and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi has died at 59.
- Zanardi lost both legs in a 2001 racing accident but achieved Paralympic success.
- He won two gold medals in para-cycling at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics.
The world of sport mourns the loss of Alex Zanardi, a former Formula 1 driver and decorated Paralympic champion, who died on May 1st, 2026, at the age of 59. His family announced his peaceful passing, surrounded by loved ones.
Zanardi's racing career included stints in Formula One from 1991 to 1994 and again in 1999, driving for teams such as Jordan, Minardi, and Lotus. He also achieved significant success in the U.S. Cart championship, winning it in 1997 and 1998.
A devastating motor racing accident in September 2001 at Germany's Lausitzring resulted in the amputation of both his legs. Undeterred, Zanardi pursued para-cycling, a sport in which he excelled, securing two gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympics and another two at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised Zanardi as "a great champion and an extraordinary man," emphasizing his ability to transform challenges into lessons of courage and strength. The FIA, the governing body of motor sport, recognized him as "one of sport's most admired competitors and an enduring symbol of courage and determination."
