Alan Jones, the 1980 world champion, has died at 80

Alan Jones, the 1980 world champion, has passed away at the age of 80. The Australian succumbed to a brief illness on November 5, exactly three days before his 80th birthday. With his Ford Cosworth FW07B in the team’s fourth season of Formula 1, Jones was the one who put in the effort to become Williams’ first champion and the 1980 title holder.

In 116 starts between 1975 and 1986 he recorded 24 podiums and 12 Grand Prix wins. Five of those were in his championship year in Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and the United States. Jack Brabham was the only other Australian world champion before him and Jones remains the last Australian to have won the home Grand Prix.

Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula 1, called him “a true great of our sport and an extraordinary racer”, a natural leader and formidable competitor that put generations of fans in his native Australia in awe. For Williams, Jones was key to what the team is today; he had formed a bond with Frank Williams and Patrick Head. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation offered a simple Vale Alan Jones for the occasion.