What changed
Alan Jones, the former Formula 1 world champion, has died aged 80. He died on 5 November after a short illness, according to a statement released by Motorsport Australia on behalf of his wife, Amanda Butler-Davis.
Jones won the 1980 world title for Williams, taking five victories and becoming the team’s first champion. He finished his F1 career with 12 wins from 116 starts.
Why it matters
Jones was the driver who turned Williams into a championship force. His title was also a major Australian milestone: he became only the second Australian F1 champion after Jack Brabham.
His career had a longer tail than the trophy cabinet suggests. After leaving F1, Jones continued racing in touring cars and endurance events, then became a familiar motorsport voice on Australian television. That made him more than a one-season champion. He remained connected to racing long after his 1980 breakthrough and his final F1 races with Haas in 1986.
For Williams, his legacy is built into the team’s history as its first of seven world champions. For Australia, he remains the most recent winner of the Australian Grand Prix, taking victory at Calder Park Raceway in 1980 when the event was not yet part of the world championship.
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