Alan Jones, Williams' first Formula 1 world champion, dies aged 80

The Melbourne-born driver won 12 grands prix and remains the most recent Australian to be crowned world champion. Sir Jack Brabham is the only other one. Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri have all won races since, but none of them has matched Jones's title.

His wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, released a statement through Motorsport Australia. In it she said Jones had "dedicated his life to motorsport, building a legacy that will live on through the countless people he touched along the way."

The family statement only says he had a short illness. He leaves behind his wife and six children: Christian, Amber, Zara, Jack, Camilla and Emma.

Australian motorsport has been quick to pay its respects. Motorsport Australia president Andrew Fraser called Jones "one of the most significant figures in Australian motorsport history". The Australian Grand Prix Corporation said his 1980 title "inspired a generation of Australian motorsport fans". Webber first met Jones in 1995 and had his support throughout his own career. Speaking to Speedcafe, he called Jones a "warrior" and described it as a "sad day for Australian motorsport".

Meanwhile, a statement from the Williams F1 team said: "Everyone at Williams is deeply saddened to learn of Alan Jones’ passing. Alan was instrumental in making Williams what it is today, forming an extraordinary bond with Frank Williams and Patrick Head to become our first Drivers' World Champion in just our fourth season in Formula 1.

"He set the standard for Williams champions: a fast, uncompromising racer with a challenger mentality who loved motor racing and dedicated his life to it. He is a true Australian icon and a Williams legend, and he will be dearly missed. We send our love and thoughts to the Jones family and all his friends."

Jones moved to Britain in 1970 to chase a Formula 1 seat. His father Stan was also a racing driver and won the 1959 Australian Grand Prix. Jones made his F1 debut with Hesketh in 1975 and went on to drive for Embassy Hill and Surtees. His first win came for Shadow at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix.

He joined Williams in 1978, when the team was still a small operation built around Frank Williams and Patrick Head. The FW07 ground-effect car arrived in 1979, and Jones won four races late that season to finish third in the championship. In 1980 he won in Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and the United States. That brought him the drivers' title, and Williams also took their first constructors' championship.

Williams retained the constructors' title in 1981. Jones finished third in the drivers' standings that year as Nelson Piquet won the championship. Jones took his final victory at the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. No Australian won another grand prix for 28 years, until Webber won in Germany in 2009.

Jones later raced for Arrows and Haas before retiring in 1986. He finished with 12 wins and 24 podiums from 116 starts. After that he became the face of Formula 1 on Australian television as an anchor on Nine's broadcasts, and he also ran his own touring car team. He received an MBE in 1980 and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.