Alex Zanardi 59 F1 driver and Paralympic champion dies
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- Alex Zanardi died peacefully at age 59 on May 1, 2026, surrounded by family, according to a family statement.
- Giorgia Meloni posted a tribute on social media, calling him a great champion who turned every challenge into a lesson in courage and dignity.
- Stefano Domenicali said Zanardi was an inspirational figure and expressed personal sadness at his loss.
- CART was the series where Zanardi’s 2001 crash in Germany severed both his legs, occurring the weekend after the September 11 attacks.
- Paralympics saw Zanardi win four gold and two silver medals in 2012 and 2016, and he later set an Ironman record.
