The sports world mourns Zanardi
The pilot who was revived seven times
May 2, 2026 – 12:51 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
Alessandro Zanardi was much more than just an athlete. The Italian endured the worst setbacks and yet was spared almost nothing.
A special aura surrounded the former Formula 1 driver and later Paralympics winner Alessandro Zanardi. He exuded a good feeling and remained optimistic even in the most difficult situations. He became a symbol of not wanting to give up, plagued by almost unbearable suffering. “No limits – Impossible is just a word” was the title of a documentary about Zanardi.
“He faced challenges that would have made anyone else give up, but he always looked forward – always with a smile and an unwavering determination that inspired us all,” said Zanardi’s compatriot and Formula 1 managing director Stefano Domenicali after Zanardi’s family announced his sudden death on May 1st. “Although his loss is deeply felt, his legacy remains unbroken.”
The German car manufacturer BMW, for whom Zanardi drove frequently and was also a brand ambassador, explained: “Alex was a wonderful person, an unwavering optimist and an inspiration to many people around the world.” Italy’s politicians were also deeply affected, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praising Zanardi as an “extraordinary person who was able to transform every test of life into a lesson in courage, strength and dignity.”
The big football clubs such as Inter Milan and Juventus Turin also honored the great athlete on social networks. The “Gazzetta dello Sport” wrote: “The racing driver and Paralympian who taught Italy to never give up.”
Formula 1 was hit by the death news that night in Miami. The sprint race and qualification are scheduled there this Saturday. Zanardi, like the current leader Kimi Antonelli from Bologna, completed his first of over 40 Formula 1 races in the final stages of the 1991 season. After the temporary end of the premier motorsport class after the 1994 season, he returned for a year in 1999. Teammate at the time: Ralf Schumacher, who now works as a TV expert.
Then the images that caused horror. Zanardi’s horrific accident in the Champ Car series at the Lausitzring. It was September 15, 2001. A horror crash. The Italian had spun his car and a competitor crashed into the car. Surviving the accident was nothing short of a miracle.
