Alan Jones, first Australian F1 champion for Williams, dies at 80
The 1980 world champion, known for his aggressive driving and blunt personality, has died after a brief illness.
By Julia Wang ·
Alan Jones, the Australian driver who claimed the Formula 1 world championship in 1980, has died at the age of 80. His family announced the news on Thursday, noting that he passed away following a short illness.
Jones was the second Australian to win the F1 world title, following Jack Brabham, and remains the last to do so. He was also the first driver to secure a championship with the Williams team. His career in the sport included 12 race victories and 24 podium finishes.
Amanda Jones, his wife, released a statement expressing the family's grief. She described him as a beloved figure who would be dearly missed by those close to him and the many fans who supported him. She noted that he always appreciated the loyalty of his supporters.
Born in Melbourne in 1946, Jones was inducted into both the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. He was known for an abrasive personality and a hard-driving style that defined his time on the track. In a 2019 podcast appearance, he explained that he took passing from rivals as a personal slight.
His approach to the sport was pragmatic. In an era when racing accidents frequently resulted in death or severe injury, Jones said he checked his life insurance annually and arranged travel for his wife back to Australia as a precaution. Despite these preparations, he stated he did not fear death itself but worried about the financial implications.
The 1980 title came with Williams, a team whose founder, Frank Williams, was skilled at managing Jones's temper. The team's FW07 car suited his physical strength and driving style. Jones did not seek friendship with his competitors, describing rivals as obstacles to be passed rather than people to know.
Tensions with teammates were common. After a public dispute with Argentinian teammate Carlos Reutemann, Jones required a police escort to his next race in Argentina. He also held a grudge against Ferrari after they reportedly failed to honor a signed contract for him to drive for them in 1977. He later joked that he would wave at their mechanics in pit lane, though sometimes with only one finger.
Jones moved to Britain in the late 1960s to pursue racing, funding his transition by buying and selling used vans. He began his F1 career with smaller teams. His first victory came in 1977 driving for Shadow in Austria. The win from 14th on the grid was such a surprise that race organizers had no recording of the Australian national anthem, and a trumpet player performed a birthday song instead.
After failing to defend his title in 1981, Jones returned to Australia to buy a farm. Homesickness and a dislike of the British weather contributed to his decision. He briefly returned to racing in 1983 with Arrows and later drove for Haas, a team with no relation to the current F1 entry of the same name. He left the series again in 1986 after finishing fourth in his best race that year.
Outside of F1, Jones won the Can-Am sportscar championship in 1978 and placed third in his only IndyCar race in 1983. He continued racing in Australia's V8 Supercars series until 2002, when he was 55. He remained in the paddock as a TV commentator and race steward, often criticizing modern drivers for being too corporate and acting like prima donnas.
