Former racing driver Zanardi has died at the age of 59

Alex Zanardi

Former Formula 1 driver Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi has died.

The Italian died on 1 May at the age of 59, his family announced on Saturday, without giving any details of the cause of death. "Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends."

Zanardi lost both legs in a 1999 crash at the Lausitzring. He then switched to handcycling, winning four Paralympic gold medals, and later returned to racing in the WTCC touring-car series.

Having competed in Formula 1 from 1991 to 1999 for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams (where he was Ralf Schumacher's team-mate), Zanardi moved to Champ Car. The career-altering crash struck on 15 September 2001 at the Lausitzring.

Zanardi suffers another serious accident in 2020

It was a turning point in his life – looking back, Zanardi called it "one of the most brilliant moments". He had, after all, "survived something that defied all odds. According to science, I didn't stand a chance".

Yet he fought his way back, though misfortune continued to dog him. On 19 June 2020, he collided with a lorry whilst riding his handbike in Tuscany. Suffering severe injuries, Zanardi was in a critical condition for a long time; it was not until a year and a half later that he left hospital.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute, writing on X, "Italy has lost a great champion and an extraordinary man who turned every trial into a lesson in courage, strength and dignity."