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 has died. Multiple outlets reported on May 1, 2026 that the Italian racing legend, a former F1 driver and multiple Paralympic gold medalist, passed away at age 59 surrounded by family.[1][2][3][4][6][10]
Key details:
- Zanardi suffered life-altering injuries in a handbike crash in 2020 and had been obtaining ongoing rehabilitation since then.[2][1]
- The family statement did not specify a cause of death, but confirmed his passing on May 1, 2026 and thanked supporters, with funeral details to be announced later.[3][1]
- Tributes poured in from across motorsport, F1 leadership, and Paralympic communities recognizing his extraordinary courage and career spanning CART, Formula 1, and Paralympic cycling.[4][6]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of Zanardi’s major milestones (F1 debut, CART success, Paralympic golds) and compile a short tribute summary with citations.