Alan Jones remembered for 'indelible mark' in touching Williams family tribute

Alan Jones left an "indelible mark" on the history of the Williams F1 team, believes former boss Claire Williams. 

Jones, the 1980 F1 world champion, died last week aged 80 after a short illness in Australia. 

The 12-time grand prix winner entered the history books in 1980 as the first driver to win the world title for Williams, with the likes of Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, and Alain Prost following in his footsteps for Sir Frank Williams and Sir Patrick Head. 

Jones was often used as the yardstick by which all Williams drivers were judged, having raced for the team between 1978 and 1981, with former deputy team principal and Sir Frank's daughter, Claire, reflecting on the Melbourne native's passing.

"It was so sad to hear of Alan's passing," Williams told RacingNews365 exclusively.

"There are a number of people who have been a part of the team over a long, long period of our history, and there have been a good handful that have left such an indelible mark as Alan did. 

"He was Dad and Patrick's first world champion, and that meant an enormous amount. I was very young; I was only four when Alan raced for us, but I knew him and built a lovely relationship with him when I was team principal, and he was enormously supportive of me, courtesy of his relationship with my dad. 

"He wasn't a driver that came and went as much as his time in the sport was pretty short comparatively. He just had a personality that my dad truly admired and respected, and I think they were very similar in their personalities. 

"It was that just kind of mindset of roll your sleeves up, put in every ounce of your fibre to get the job done and to win. That was their mindset.

"Unfortunately, it's another racing great [who has died]. It's another icon who is no longer here, and that's incredibly sad.

"My thoughts are with his family, with his friends, and those who will feel his passing sorely."