Alan Jones, the last Australian to win the Formula 1 World Championship and the first driver to deliver a drivers’ title to Williams, has died at the age of 80 following a short illness. His wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, confirmed the news through Motorsport Australia on Thursday, 5 November 2026, just three days after Jones celebrated his 80th birthday on 2 November. The Melbourne-born racer, known across the paddock as “Jonesy,” won 12 grands prix across a Formula 1 career that spanned 1975 to 1986 and remains the benchmark against which every Australian driver since has been measured.
A Champion’s Passing Confirmed by Family
The Jones family released a statement through Motorsport Australia announcing the death of the 1980 World Champion. His wife described the loss in simple, direct terms.
“We are extremely saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Alan, who passed away on 5 November following a short illness,” Amanda Butler-Davis said. “He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by those closest to him, as well as the many fans whose support he was always grateful for.”
The statement also noted that Jones “dedicated his life to motorsport, building a legacy that will live on through the countless people he touched along the way.” His family said his achievements, passion and unmistakable character left “an enduring mark on the sport both nationally and across the globe.”
Jones is survived by his wife Amanda and six children: Christian, Amber, Zara, Jack, Camilla and Emma. He was previously married to Beverley.
The 1980 Title Run That Changed Williams Forever
Jones joined Williams in 1978 after spells with Hesketh, Hill, Surtees and Shadow. The move aligned him with team founder Sir Frank Williams and technical chief Sir Patrick Head, and the partnership quickly produced results. Jones took Williams’ first podium at Watkins Glen in 1978 and the team’s first pole position at Silverstone in 1979.
The 1980 season became the defining chapter of his career. Jones won five grands prix — in Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and the United States — and finished on the podium in all but one of the races he completed. He beat Brazil’s Nelson Piquet to the drivers’ title with one race remaining, becoming only the second Australian to win the championship after Sir Jack Brabham.
That title was also Williams’ first drivers’ championship, and the team secured its maiden constructors’ crown in the same season. Jones added two more victories in 1981, including his final Formula 1 win at the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas, before stepping away from the sport at the end of that year.
Formula 1 and Williams Pay Tribute to a Fierce Competitor
Formula 1’s official statement remembered Jones as a driver who “didn’t hold back.” The sport described him as “a fierce racer and competitive spirit” and noted his famous title run alongside Frank Williams in 1980.
Williams released a statement that underlined Jones’ place in the team’s history.
“Alan was instrumental in making Williams what it is today, forming an extraordinary bond with Frank Williams and Patrick Head to become our first Drivers’ World Champion in just our fourth season in Formula 1,” the Williams statement read. “He set the standard for Williams champions: a fast, uncompromising racer with a challenger mentality who loved motor racing and dedicated his life to it. He is a true Australian icon and a Williams legend, and he will be dearly missed.”
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, also paid tribute, calling Jones “a true great of our sport and an extraordinary racer.”
“Alan was a formidable competitor, a natural leader and an icon who inspired generations of fans, particularly in his beloved Australia,” Domenicali said. “His place in Formula 1 history is assured, not least for bringing Williams their first Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships in 1980, a defining moment for the team and our sport.”
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation acknowledged Jones’ death “with great sadness,” noting that his 1980 World Championship inspired a generation of Australian motorsport fans. His victory at the 1980 Australian Grand Prix at Calder Park — a race that was not part of the world championship at the time — remains the last time an Australian driver has won their home grand prix.
Mark Webber Leads Australian Mourning
Former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, who became the third Australian to win a grand prix when he triumphed at the 2009 German Grand Prix, spoke about Jones’ support during his own career. Webber first met Jones in 1995 while racing in Australian Formula Ford against a team run by the 1980 champion.
“It’s a sad day for Australian motorsport,” Webber told Speedcafe. “He’s a good character gone. A warrior I’d say. A warrior and a character gone, and he made his presence felt for our country. He flew the flag really hard, which is what you want. You can’t ask for any more than that. Didn’t leave anything on the table.”
Webber described Jones as a straight talker who never exaggerated his praise. “He was always supportive, but AJ was never over the top,” Webber said. “It wasn’t glowing or gushing. He just was as he was. Straight off the hip and as we knew he was.”
The two men were linked by Australia’s long wait for another Formula 1 victory. Jones took his final win at Caesars Palace in 1981, and Webber ended a 28-year gap between Australian grand prix winners at the Nürburgring in 2009.
From Hesketh to Williams: The Making of a Racer
Jones was born in Melbourne on 2 November 1946, the son of Australian racing driver Stan Jones, who won the 1959 Australian Grand Prix. He moved to Europe in 1970 to pursue a career in international motorsport after early attempts to race overseas ran into financial trouble.
His Formula 1 debut came with Hesketh at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, a race remembered for a crash that killed five spectators. The team folded before the season ended, and Jones moved to Graham Hill’s team, where a fifth-place finish at the Nürburgring was the highlight. A difficult season with Surtees in 1976 left his career in limbo, but the death of driver Tom Pryce at the 1977 South African Grand Prix led to Jones being signed by Shadow.
Jones claimed his first Formula 1 victory with Shadow at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix, beating Niki Lauda’s Ferrari. Ferrari offered him a deal and then withdrew it, signing Gilles Villeneuve instead. Jones ultimately joined Williams, and the rest became team history.
A Second Career in Cars and Commentary
Jones did not stop racing when his Formula 1 career ended. He competed in touring cars and endurance events, winning the 1982 Australian Sports Sedan and GT Championship and the 1993 Bathurst 12 Hour. He finished second at the 1995 Bathurst 1000 alongside Allan Grice and third in 1988 with Colin Bond, making 19 appearances at Mount Panorama across three decades.
He became a well-known television commentator in Australia, working on Formula 1 coverage for Channel Nine from 1987 to 2002 and later for Network 10 in the early 2010s. His straight-talking style carried over from the cockpit to the broadcast booth.
Jones was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1980 for his services to motorsport. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame in 2016.
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A Career Defined by Numbers and a Lasting Standard
Jones’ Formula 1 record stands at 116 starts, 12 victories, 24 podium finishes, 6 pole positions and 13 fastest laps. Eleven of his 12 wins came with Williams, the team he helped turn into a championship force.
His 1980 title made him the first of Williams’ seven world champions, and the team’s statement made clear that every driver who followed was measured against him.
“He is a true Australian icon and a Williams legend, and he will be dearly missed,” the Williams tribute read. “We send our love and thoughts to the Jones family and all his friends.”
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