Alex Zanardi, the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist whose career was marked by two life-altering accidents, has died. He was 59. Zanardi’s family announced his death on Saturday (May 2, 2026), saying that he passed away on Friday (May 1) night.

“Alex died peacefully, surrounded by the affection of those closest to him,” the family said in a statement without providing a cause of death.

In 2020, Zanardi was seriously injured in a handbike accident after crashing into an oncoming truck during a relay event in Tuscany. Zanardi suffered serious facial and cranial trauma in the crash and was put in a medically induced coma.

Nearly 20 years earlier, Zanardi lost both of his legs in an auto racing crash.

PM Meloni’s tribute

“Italy loses a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every challenge of life into a lesson in courage, strength, and dignity,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on X.

“Alex Zanardi knew how to bounce back every time, facing even the toughest challenges with determination, clarity, and a strength of spirit that was truly exceptional,” Meloni added.

“With his sporting achievements, with his example, and with his humanity, he gave all of us much more than a victory: he gave hope, pride, and the strength to never give up. On behalf of myself and the government, I extend my heartfelt thoughts and the sincerest closeness to his family and to all those who loved him. Thank you for everything, Alex.”

Accident and Paralympics success

Zanardi won two championships in CART In the United States before a brief move to Formula One. He returned to America and was racing in Germany in a CART event in 2001 when both of his legs were severed in a horrific accident the weekend after the September 11 terrorist attacks. CART raced only because the series was already in Germany at the time of the attacks and could not return to the U.S.

During his recovery, Zanardi designed his own prosthetics — he joked that he made himself taller — and learned to walk again. He then turned his attention to hand cycling and developed into one of the most accomplished athletes in the world. He won four gold medals and two silvers at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, competed in the New York City Marathon and set an Ironman record.

His spirit, will, and determination gave the beloved Italian a larger than life persona. When he returned to the U.S. in 2019 to compete for BMW at the Rolex 24 of Daytona without his prosthetics, he was the most revered driver in a field that included F1 champion Fernando Alonso.

Drivers from around the world sought out Zanardi for photographs and were transfixed as he told elaborate tales of his adventures in the nearly two decades since many had seen him.

Praise from Pope Francis

Noted for his infectious smile and fanciful storytelling, Zanardi was praised by Pope Francis after his 2020 crash as an example of strength amid adversity. Francis penned a handwritten letter of encouragement assuring Zanardi and his family of his prayers.

Zanardi’s family added that it “thanks everyone who is sharing their support right now and asks for respect during this time of mourning.”

Funeral details were still to be announced, the family said.

Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been cancelled as the West Asia war engulfs the region, motorsport’s governing body the FIA announced on Saturday (March 14, 2026).

“It has been confirmed today that, after careful evaluations, due to the ongoing situation in the West Asia region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April,” the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.

Iran-Israel war updates on March 14, 2026

“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.

“The decision has been taken in full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters and our member clubs in the region.”

Bahrain had been scheduled as the fourth Grand Prix this season to take place on April 10-12, with the Saudi race a week later.

The Gulf has been battered by two weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks after the United States and Israel started their war on Iran.

Tiny Bahrain, a short hop over the Gulf sea from Iran, has been targeted with frequent attacks that have hit buildings and a refinery, as well as its large US military base.

Saudi Arabia has also weathered scores of strikes, some of them targeting the oil infrastructure that is crucial for the world’s biggest exporter of crude.

“The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.

“After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.

“We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events.

“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.

“My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners, and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision.”

Kimi Antonelli took pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton and was asked by AFP in Shanghai about the possible cancellation of the West Asia races.

“My thoughts, and I think it’s the same for Lewis and George, are with the ones that are suffering from this situation,” said the 19-year-old Mercedes driver.

“Formula One and the FIA, they will handle the situation the best way possible in order to guarantee everyone’s safety.”

The Japanese Grand Prix will take place on March 27-29 with the following Formula One race now slated for the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3.

Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled slots in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Neighbouring Qatar has also been targeted, with the first round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) scheduled for March 26-28 now postponed until October.

Kimi Antonelli stepped up on Saturday (March 14, 2026) when his Mercedes teammate George Russell hit trouble in qualifying to become the youngest-ever driver on pole position for a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

After holding off a challenge from Ferrari to win the sprint race earlier in the day, Russell seemed near-unbeatable. Then he stopped on track in qualifying and limped back to the pits with technical problems.

Russell’s team got the car going again with seconds to spare for him to set a time. It was only good enough for second on the grid, 0.222 of a second off Antonelli, who kept up Mercedes’ run of qualifying dominance after F1’s sweeping changes to the cars for 2026.

The Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will start third and fourth. Their fast starts could threaten Mercedes off the line, as they did last week in Australia and in Saturday’s sprint race.

The 19-year-old Antonelli becomes the youngest driver to take pole position for a full Grand Prix race, though he was also on pole aged 18 for a sprint race last year in Miami.

“It’s just the beginning, so obviously there’s a lot more to come,” Antonelli said. “Really looking forward to tomorrow. Car is feeling really good, car is strong, so a lot to play for tomorrow. But just super happy with today.” Russell said a damaged front wing and gear-change issues made for a “crazy” qualifying session. “As soon as I went out on the track, I could tell something wasn’t right,” he said. He then had to set a last-chance time with a depleted battery and cold tires.

Russell holds off Ferraris in sprint

Russell won the first race of the season in Australia last weekend, and he followed up taking the 19-lap sprint in China.

As last week in Australia, the Ferraris were fast off the line and Russell and Lewis Hamilton swapped the lead several times on the first few laps. But Russell began to pull away after the early laps with Hamilton fading as the constant battles took a toll on his tires. Charles Leclerc was second with his teammate Hamilton third.

“Lewis did an amazing job in the in the early laps,” Russell said. “He caught me off guard — 20 years of experience. So I’ve still got a bit to learn.” “It was pretty fun in the end,” Russell added. “A lot of strategy in play and overtakes. It’s not easy. I hope it was fun race to watch. Usually the sprint races are pretty boring.” Hamilton received loud applause from the Shanghai crowd when he began his on-track interview by saying “Ni hao” — hello in Chinese.

“That speed (of Mercedes) on the straight is just a little bit too much at the moment,” said Hamilton, who won last year’s sprint in China for his only victory since joining Ferrari. “I think I put up a good fight.” Hamilton and Leclerc couldn’t renew their challenge late in the race after a safety car period for Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg stopping on track.

Lando Norris was fourth for McLaren and Antonelli fifth after serving a penalty for an early collision with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.

Adapting to F1’s changes

Formula 1 has made massive engine and chassis changes for this season — the most radical in over a decade — that feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power.

Russell is one of the new era’s biggest cheerleaders and said Saturday’s sprint battle felt “like go-kart racing in the past … I don’t ever remember Formula 1 being like that, where you can have three or four cars all fighting for the same position truly on track.” Drivers have struggled to handle the trade-off between using power and conserving it, and some have struggled with extra power coming in unexpectedly.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen is no fan of the changes and finished ninth in the sprint race.

“Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong,” Verstappen said. “We just need to get our stuff together.”

George Russell struck the first blow in ​the Formula One championship for Mercedes as he ‌claimed an emphatic victory in the ​season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead ⁠of teammate Kimi Antonelli and crushed an early challenge from Ferrari.

Having dominated qualifying, pole-sitter Russell’s first win ‌at Albert Park underlined Mercedes’ promising pre-season form.

The Briton finished nearly three ‌seconds ahead of Antonelli, with Leclerc ‌more ⁠than 15 seconds behind on a ⁠cloudy afternoon at the lakeside circuit on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

Russell engaged in a thrilling early duel with Leclerc as the ​racers swapped the ‌lead seven times in the opening nine laps.

But there was soon daylight between Mercedes and the rest.

After swapping out medium tyres ‌early following a virtual safety car ​deployment, Russell rode the hard compounds for 45 laps and Mercedes’ pace ⁠did the rest.

“Great job everybody, it’s been a long time since we’ve been here,” he ‌said over the team radio.

It was a tough day for McLaren, with home hero Oscar Piastri’s race over before it begun with a crash during a reconnaissance lap some 40 minutes before the start.

His ‌teammate and defending champion Lando Norris finished fifth, one ​place behind seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari.

Four-times champion Max Verstappen ⁠was sixth for Red Bull.

Only 20 of the ⁠22 cars started, with Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg scratched just before the race ‌due to a reliability problem.

Another three cars failed to finish, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar ​among them.