Zanardi passes away at 59 as the F1 community honors him.

      Alex Zanardi has passed away at the age of 59, as confirmed by his family, coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death.

      "It is with profound sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which took place on the evening of May 1," the statement mentioned. "Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the affection of his family."

      Zanardi’s life was characterized by remarkable resilience. After competing in Formula 1 in the early 1990s, he rose to fame in US open-wheel racing before returning to F1 with Williams for a brief period. A devastating CART crash in 2001 resulted in the amputation of both his legs. He later transformed himself into a Paralympic champion in handcycling, securing multiple gold medals, but suffered severe head and facial injuries in another accident in 2020.

      Former teammate Mika Salo expressed his shock upon hearing the news of Zanardi's death. "Oh my God," he remarked to Iltalehti. "The guy had to endure a really tough life. First, the amputation accident, and then he was hit by a truck. He was successful in all his endeavors, but success was always accompanied by dreadful misfortune."

      Tributes flooded in from the Formula 1 paddock in Miami, where teams like Williams and Haas displayed stickers in his memory, and a minute of silence was observed before the sprint race. Mercedes chief Toto Wolff stated, "In motorsport, we often speak about courage. Occasionally, you meet someone who truly represents what that means. Alex Zanardi was that individual."

      Fellow Italian Giancarlo Fisichella described him as a distinctive figure in the sport. "There are countless adjectives to define a man like him: extraordinary, exceptional, incredible. But he was simply one of a kind. I can say with certainty that I’ve never encountered anyone like him," he told La Repubblica. "He demonstrated through his actions that we should never feel defeated. He never lost hope. He is an example for everyone—a man who never lost his path. He knew how to start anew and reinvent himself. He approached everything with courage and determination."

      Italian media echoed his legacy, with La Gazzetta dello Sport noting that Zanardi was "the racing driver and Paralympian who taught Italy never to give up." Zanardi is survived by his wife and son, who will provide additional details about his funeral in due course.