Former F1 driver and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi dies aged 59
Zanardi made his F1 debut in 1991 and later became a four-time Paralympic gold medallist after losing both his legs in a high-speed crash.
news.stv.tvAlex Zanardi died on May 1, 2026, at age 59.
Key points about the news:
- Multiple outlets reported his death, confirming the passing occurred in the evening of May 1, 2026, after a long battle following his 2020 handbike crash. [sources across Italian and international outlets reported the same date and age, e.g., Il Giornale, Motorsport.com, Autosport, Sky TG24, and others][1][2][3][4]
- The family issued a statement announcing his death and thanking supporters, with funeral information to be shared later.[2]
- Zanardi was a former Formula One driver, CART champion, and Paralympic gold medallist, who had undergone extensive treatment after the 2001 accident that caused the loss of both legs, and later became a Paralympic icon.[3][5][2]
If you’d like, I can pull together a concise timeline of his career milestones and the key moments from 2001 through 2026, with direct citations after each item.