Legendary Formula 1 Driver Alessandro Zanardi Has Died

Italian racing driver and four-time Paralympic champion Alessandro Zanardi has died at the age of 59 after a life full of severe trials and incredible comebacks.

Zanardi's family announced his death on Saturday, May 2, stating that he passed away late the night before. "Alex died peacefully, surrounded by the love of his closest people," the Fox Sports channel quoted the family's statement. The cause of death is not specified.

From 1991 to 1999, Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi participated in 41 Formula 1 races, driving for the Jordan, Minardi, Lotus, and Williams teams. In 1996, he made a name for himself in the American CART series (now IndyCar), where he was recognized as "Rookie of the Year."

A turning point in the athlete's life occurred in 2001. After a severe accident at the Lausitzring track in Germany, both of his legs were amputated above the knees. Due to massive blood loss, he was brought back to life seven times. When Zanardi was taken to a Berlin hospital, there was only one liter of blood left in his body, writes the German newspaper Bild.

Despite this, Zanardi accomplished the nearly impossible - he returned to motorsport. From 2005 to 2009, he competed in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) for the BMW team. Zanardi's cars were equipped with special devices that allowed him to control the throttle and brakes with his hands.

Since 2011, Alessandro Zanardi has fully dedicated himself to para-cycling. Competing on a handbike, he won numerous titles, including four gold medals at the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and Rio 2016. In 2012, he was named "Athlete of the Year" in Italy by Gazzetta dello Sport. Zanardi also participated in one of the most prestigious endurance competitions in the world, the Ironman in Hawaii. In 2007, he successfully completed the New York Marathon.

In June 2020, Zanardi suffered another serious accident - during a charity race in Siena, he was hit by a truck. He was only able to leave the hospital in December 2021. In 2022, after a fire in his home, he faced another lengthy hospitalization.

With the death of Alessandro Zanardi, Bild wrote in his obituary, sports loses not just a champion, but a person who became a symbol of struggle, strength of spirit, and the ability to start over - again, and again, and again, writes Deutsche Welle.