- Former Formula One driver and Paralympic gold medalist Alex Zanardi died on Friday at the age of 59.
- Zanardi competed in F1 for five seasons, with a best finish of sixth in 1993, before a severe crash in 2001 resulted in the amputation of both his legs.
- Despite the life-altering accident, he became a celebrated para-cyclist, securing two gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympics and two more at the 2016 Rio Games, in addition to multiple world championships.
- Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to Zanardi, describing him as a "remarkable" and "lovely guy" whose resilience and positive attitude made him an inspiration to many.
- Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle, who raced against Zanardi, also lauded him as a "wonderful character" and an "extraordinary individual" who defied expectations after his 2001 accident and continued to show relentless competitive spirit.
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