Alex Zanardi dies at the age of 59
Former F1 driver, CART champion and Paralympic gold medallist passes away nearly six years after 2020 crash
www.motorsport.comAlex Zanardi died on May 1, 2026, at age 59.
Key points about the news:
- Multiple outlets reported his death, confirming the passing occurred in the evening of May 1, 2026, after a long battle following his 2020 handbike crash. [sources across Italian and international outlets reported the same date and age, e.g., Il Giornale, Motorsport.com, Autosport, Sky TG24, and others][1][2][3][4]
- The family issued a statement announcing his death and thanking supporters, with funeral information to be shared later.[2]
- Zanardi was a former Formula One driver, CART champion, and Paralympic gold medallist, who had undergone extensive treatment after the 2001 accident that caused the loss of both legs, and later became a Paralympic icon.[3][5][2]
If you’d like, I can pull together a concise timeline of his career milestones and the key moments from 2001 through 2026, with direct citations after each item.