Former F1 driver and Paralympic legend Alex Zanardi passes away aged 59

Alex Zanardi, the former F1 driver-turned four-time Paralympic Gold medalist, has died aged 59, his family has announced.

Zanardi had not been seen in public since a serious road traffic accident in June 2020 when he collided with a truck during a road hand-cycle race in his native Italy, which saw him airlifted to hospital having suffered severe facial trauma. 

He stayed in hospital until December 2021, when he returned home after multiple surgeries to continue his rehabilitation, but he was not seen in public again.

News of Zanardi's crash prompted messages of support from the F1 paddock, after he competed in 41 grands prix for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus, and Williams between 1991 and 1999.

After leaving F1 to head back to America in 1994, Zanardi became a two-time CART champion for Chip Ganassi, including a dominant 1998 season in which he won seven of the 19 races and took eight further podiums to beat Jimmy Vasser to the title as the 'split' in US open-wheel racing deepened.

In 1996, on the final lap of the race at Laguna Seca, Zanardi passed Bryan Herta, the father of Colton, for the win at the Corkscrew - the iconic overtake simply being known as ‘The Pass.’

His success in America earned him a route back to F1, with Williams deciding to sign Zanardi for 1999, but he failed to score a point alongside Ralf Schumacher and was formally 'not classified' in the drivers' standings, having retired from 10 of the 16 rounds, with a best finish of seventh at Monza in the days of the top six only scoring points.

After not racing in 2000, Zanardi returned to CART with Mo Nunn Racing, suffering life-changing injuries in an overseas race at the Lausitzring in Germany on September 15th, 2001.

Exiting the pits, Zanardi lost control of his car and slid up onto the oval where he was hit broadside by the unsighted Alex Tagliani at an estimated 200mph. 

Zanardi suffered amputation of both of his legs in the impact, lost 75% of his blood volume, suffered a broken pelvis and was placed in an induced coma. 

He was awakened on September 20th, and left Germany on October 30 to begin his rehabilitation, which included returning to track in 2003 to complete the final 13 laps he did not in the 2001 race.

Following his injuries, Zanardi returned to motorsport with touring cars and even competed in the 2019 Daytona 24 Hours in a specially-modified BMW M8. In 2006, he drove a BMW Sauber F1 car at Valencia in Spain. 

He began to compete in handcycling after his accident, including finishing fourth at the 2007 New York City Marathon and winning in Rome in 2010.

At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Zanardi competed for Italy and claimed two gold medals in the H4 class in the road time trial and individual road race, the first of which came at Brands Hatch. 

At the following Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Zanardi won gold in the H5 road time trial event and in the H2-5 mixed team relay. He also won a Silver medal in both the London and Rio games, respectively, and a total of 12 gold medals in the World Championships. 

A statement released by his family on social media read: "It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly on the evening of yesterday, May 1.

"Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. The family sincerely thanks everyone who has shown support in these hours and asks for respect for their grief and privacy at this time of mourning. Information regarding the funeral will be shared at a later date."

Everyone at RacingNews365 sends their thoughts to the friends and family of Alex Zanardi.