--- title: "Racing and Paralympic Champion Alex Zanardi Dead at 59" date: "2026-05-02" modified: "2026-05-02" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/racing-and-paralympic-champion-alex-zanardi-dead-at-59" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Racing and Paralympic Champion Alex Zanardi Dead at 59 ![Italy's Alessandro Zanardi celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's individual H4 time trial cycling final during the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Brands Hatch circuit, in Kent, southern England on September 5, 2012. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)]() *\Leon Neal via Getty\* Alessandro Leone [Zanardi]() passed away on May 1—ironically, an already somber day for racing fans worldwide—at the young age of 59. The exact cause of death was not revealed, though a statement from the Zanardi family claims that, although unexpected, it was peaceful. "It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, 1 May," read a statement from Zanardi's family, [per the *BBC*](). "Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all those who are showing their support at this time and asks that their grief and privacy be respected during this period of mourning." ![Alex Zanardi from Italy drives the #4 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 96i Honda HRH during the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race on 14th April 1996 on the streets of the Long Beach race circuit in Long Beach, California, United States. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images)]() ![Alex Zanardi of Italy drives the #5 Winfield Williams Williams FW21 Supertec V10 during the Italian Grand Prix on 12 September 1999 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza near Monza, Italy. (Photo by Michael Cooper/Getty Images]() ![FONTANA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26 : CART Driver Alex Zanardi at California Speedway, September 26, 1997 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)]() Zanardi, who raced in a myriad of disciplines from endurance to rally, is best known for his dominance in American open-wheel racing, such as CART and, of course, Formula 1. Following a horrific, near-death crash at the Lausitzring on September 15, 2001, that claimed both of his legs, Zanardi shocked the world by returning to racing in the World Touring Car Championship a few years later. Even more impressively, he went on to become a Paralympic champion, winning the New York Marathon, the World Championships, and the London Paralympics in 2012. He has two gold and one silver medal to his name. Disaster struck again in June 2020 when he was involved in a [serious accident during a hand bike race in Italy](). He reportedly lost control of his machine and veered into the opposite direction, leading him to crash head-on into a truck. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital and had to undergo a series of surgeries, and remained in intensive care for an extended period of time. As Motorsport.com highlights, this led to various other complications that forced him to be in and out of hospitals for some time. It was never fully revealed the extent of his injuries, but they were believed to be rather extreme. ![DAYTONA, FL - JANUARY 26: The #24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE of Jesse Krohn, John Edwards, Chaz Mostert, and Alex Zanardi during the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 26, 2019 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)]() ![Cheste, SPAIN: Italian F1 driver Alex Zanardi who lost his both legs in an accident 15 September 2001 during a kart championships in Germany gestures after a BMW practice session at the racetrack Ricardo Tormo in Cheste near Valencia 25 November 2006. AFP PHOTO/JOSE JORDAN (Photo credit should read JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)]() ![Italian driver and Olympic Champion Alex Zanardi drive his BMW M6 GT3 during 7th stage of Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo in Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Pietro, Firenze, Italia on 4 October 2019. (Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images)]() Zanardi lived a quiet life in Italy with his family, and I can only hope his last few years were good. He accomplished so much and was such an enormous example to humanity that it's only fair he departed this world with a smile on his face and with his head held high. Rest in peace, champ. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()