![\"Motorsport](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/XPB_183467_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe motorsport community have united in honouring Alex Zanardi. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe motorsport community have united in honouring Alex Zanardi. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Leading figures from the paddock and beyond have remembered the Italian as an inspiration, celebrating both his achievements on track and his remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali led the tributes, describing Zanardi as a close friend and a figure of immense strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Alex Zanardi,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete. I will always carry with me his extraordinary strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe faced challenges that would have stopped anyone, yet he continued to look forward, always with a smile and a stubborn determination that inspired us all.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile his loss is profoundly felt, his legacy remains strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this time, my heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his wife Daniela, his son Niccol\u00f2, the rest of the family and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff echoed those sentiments, hailing Zanardi as a benchmark for courage within the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn motor racing, we talk a lot about courage. Every now and then you meet someone who truly defines what that means. Alex Zanardi was that person,\u201d Wolff said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a young racing driver, I admired Alex\u2019s skills behind-the-wheel. What he achieved, particularly in America, showed what a talent he was.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he achieved after his accident was even more inspiring though. He showed that even when life challenges you, it does not have to define you.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat adversity can be overcome with humility, humour and optimism.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis example will continue to inspire and act as a reminder of what true courage really looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke of his resilience in fighting back from several life obstacles, calling him an \u201cinspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSad to hear of his passing. He was remarkable, a really lovely guy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then with his resilience, the way he came back, how he always maintained a positive mental attitude. An inspiration to so many and he did things the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n
1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill reflected on Zanardi\u2019s character and determination, calling his passing a significant loss to the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly sad,\u201d Hill said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had far too much bad luck in his life, I feel, for someone who was so passionate and indomitable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe showed what he was made of when he came back after losing his legs, competing in the Paralympics and all the other competitions he did.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an individual, he was extraordinary. He seemed like he had that classic Italian enthusiasm for everything he did, which was impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, it\u2019s very sad that he\u2019s left us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle also paid tribute following a one-minute silence in Miami, highlighting Zanardi\u2019s enduring impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the most wonderful character and extraordinary individual,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe accident he had in 2001 when he lost his legs, people did not expect him to survive.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/XPB_1407657_HiRes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A minute\u2019s silence was held before the Miami Sprint in tribute to Zanardi. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he made it and within a couple of years he was in touring car racing, then got into hand cycling, winning gold medals at the Paralympics in 2012 and 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a relentless competitive nature against all odds and challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what an incredible character and inspiration for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown paid tribute to Zanardi, with Stella dedicating the team\u2019s Miami sprint victory to his fellow Italian.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAllow me, please, to remember and pay tribute to Alex Zanardi, a very special man, driver, athlete, a real symbol and example of what it means to love life, love life and inspiration for everyone. So this victory is for him,\u201d he said after the race.<\/p>\n Brown meanwhile paid tribute to Zanardi\u2019s talent and influence across the sport.<\/p>\n \u201cAlex Zanardi was an amazing driver, a fierce competitor and a personal inspiration to me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are all deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Our thoughts are with all of his friends and family.<\/p>\n Williams team principal James Vowles also highlighted both Zanardi\u2019s competitiveness and his ability to redefine himself after his accident.<\/p>\n \u201cI am deeply saddened to learn that Alex Zanardi has passed away. He was an incredible competitor whose will to win was extraordinary, and the way that he redefined himself after his accident to turn adversity into triumph at a Paralympic level was truly inspirational. RIP Alex,\u201d Vowles said.<\/p>\n Tributes extended beyond the F1 paddock, with Italy\u2019s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praising Zanardi\u2019s legacy as one of perseverance and inspiration.<\/p>\n \u201cItaly loses a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every test of life into a lesson of courage, strength and dignity,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cWith his sporting achievements, with his example and with his humanity, he has given all of us much more than a victory: he has given hope, pride and the strength to never give up.\u201d<\/p>\n Former IndyCar powerhouse Chip Ganassi also paid an emotional tribute, reflecting on Zanardi\u2019s influence during his championship-winning years in America.<\/p>\n \u201cChip Ganassi Racing and the whole racing community has lost more than a legend \u2014 the world has lost one of its most extraordinary human beings,\u201d Ganassi wrote on X.<\/p>\n \u201cAlex Zanardi was the definition of resilience, courage, and grace. He was integral in shaping Chip Ganassi Racing into what it has become.<\/p>\n Chip Ganassi Racing and the whole racing community has lost more than a legend \u2014 the world has lost one of its most extraordinary human beings.<\/p>\n Alex Zanardi was the definition of resilience, courage, and grace. He was integral in shaping Chip Ganassi Racing into what it has\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip) May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cFrom the highest levels of motorsport to his incredible achievements beyond it, he showed us all what it truly means to fight, to adapt, and to live with purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cHis strength inspired millions, but it was his humility, kindness, and unwavering positivity that made him unforgettable.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t just overcome adversity \u2014 he redefined what was possible.<\/p>\n \u201cRest in peace, Alex. Your legacy will continue to push us forward, on and off the track.\u201d<\/p>\n Prominent IndyCar reporter Marshall Pruett spoke of his \u201cwit and mischief\u201d while paying tribute to a man he referred to as \u201cthe pineapple\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are people you love, and then there are the select few you LOVE. If you knew Alex Zanardi, you loved that man with a passion, an instant friend, filled with charm and child-like wonderment for life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd raging, unanswerable speed; the puzzle his IndyCar rivals could rarely solve.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the wit and mischief. It was nigh-on impossible to spend time with \u2018The Pineapple\u2019 without laughing \u2014 often at your own expense.<\/p>\n \u201cAll that life would eventually take from him, and yet he remained a gift.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ultimate overcomer and motivator. To summon a smile and fight through the physical pain and mental anguish to go outside and live \u2014 truly live \u2014 is to honour him.<\/p>\n \u201cLOVED Alex Zanardi, like the millions whose lives were bettered by his humanity and excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellow Italian racer Max Papis called Zanardi his \u201chero\u201d in an emotional tribute.<\/p>\n \u201cMy best friend since I was 12 years old, my HERO, Godfather of my son, has left us with tears in my eyes but smiles in my heart,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Further tributes came from across the wider motorsport community, including Ferrari president John Elkann, BMW M president Franciscus van Meel and IMSA president John Doonan.<\/p>\n Zanardi\u2019s career spanned Formula 1, CART, and spells in touring cars and sportscars, as well as a remarkable second chapter in Paralympic sport, where he won four gold medals after overcoming the loss of both legs in a 2001 crash.<\/p>\n Former F1 driver and CART champion Alex Zanardi dies<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/250635.jpeg\")