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Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi (born 23 October 1966 in Bologna, BO, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) is a former Formula One driver who competed in the 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 seasons, and made a return to the sport in 1999.

Scoring only one single point during the 1993 season at the race in Brazil, he had a horrible crash at Belgium which occured on the Eau Rouge corner, making him miss the rest of the season, being replaced by Pedro Lamy.

Zanardi also competed in other forms of motorsport, including IndyCar, ChampCar and European Touring Car Championship series', during the first 13 years of his motorsport career.

Zanardi is, however, probably best known for a horrific accident suffered during a CART race at Lausitzring in 2001, in which he lost both of his legs. In attempting to rejoin the track following a pit-stop, Zanardi spun across the track, coming to rest at right-angles to the oncoming traffic. As Zanardi's car laid stricken on the circuit, the Forsythe Racing Ford of Patrick Carpentier was able to avoid him, but Alex Tagliani's car was not. Tagliani hit the side of Zanardi's car, just behind the front wheels, at around 200 mph, splitting the car in half. Due to the exceptional work of doctors, Zanardi survived, but he had both legs amputated above the knees as a result of his horrific injuries.

A long and difficult rehabilitation followed, but due to the dedication and ambition of Zanardi, he was back behind the wheel at the 2003 event at Lausitz using a specially adapted "hand-control" car in which throttle and brake were controlled by the driver's hands.

Less than a year later, Zanardi competed in his first competitive race since his accident - the opening race of the 2004 European Touring Car season at Monza. A year later, the series was renamed the World Touring Car Championship and in August 2005, Zanardi won his first race since returning to motorsport - the 2nd race of the WTCC Race of Germany at Oschersleben.

In 2006, Zanardi was given the opportunity to drive a hand-controlled BMW Sauber Formula One car at Valencia.

In 2009 Zanardi elected to retire from competitive motorsport to focus on the production of the Zanardi kart chassis which has been produced since 2004. Zanardi has also competed in numerous Para-Cycling races and, in 2009 stated his intention to represent Italy at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. In 2012 it was confirmed that he would compete at the 2012 Games.

On 5 September 2012, Zanardi won paralympic gold in the hand-cycling at Brands Hatch. The win was the third time Zanardi had been on the podium at the Brands Hatch circuit, after finishing second in a Formula 3000 race in 1991 and third in a hand-operated Touring Car in 2008.

He won another Paralympic gold in 2016 at the Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Formula One Career[]

Formula One Statistical Overview[]

Formula One Record[]

Year Entrant Team WDC Pts. WDC Pos. Report
1991 United Kingdom Footwork Grand Prix International Footwork-Ford Cosworth Test Driver Report
Ireland Team 7Up Jordan Jordan-Ford 0 NC
1992 United Kingdom Camel Benetton Ford Benetton-Ford Test Driver Report
Italy Minardi Team Minardi-Lamborghini 0 NC
1993 United Kingdom Camel Benetton Ford Benetton-Ford Test Driver Report
United Kingdom Team Lotus Lotus-Ford 1 20th
1994 United Kingdom Team Lotus Lotus-Mugen-Honda Test Driver Report
0 NC
1995–1997: Did not compete
1998 United Kingdom Winfield Williams Williams-Mecachrome Test Driver
1999 United Kingdom Winfield Williams Williams-Supertec 0 NC Report
2000–2005: Did not compete
2006 Germany BMW Sauber F1 Team BMW Sauber Test Driver

Career Statistics[]

Entries 44
Starts 41
Pole Positions 0
Sprint Poles 0
Front Row Starts 0
Race Wins 0
Sprint Wins 0
Podiums 0
Sprint Podiums 0
Fastest Laps 0
Sprint Fastest Laps 0
Points 1
Laps Raced 1568
Distance Raced 7,275 km (4,520 mi)

Career Results[]

Complete Formula One Results
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts Pos
1991 Flag of the United States Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of Mexico Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Spain Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 0 NC
9th Ret 9th
[1]
1992 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Mexico Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of Spain Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 0 NC
DNQ Ret DNQ
1993 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Brazil Flag of Europe Flag of San Marino Flag of Spain Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 1 20th
Ret 6th 8th Ret 14th 7th 11th Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS INJ INJ INJ INJ
1994 Flag of Brazil Flag of the Pacific Community Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Spain Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Europe Flag of Japan Flag of Australia 0 NC
INJ INJ INJ INJ 9th 15th Ret Ret Ret 13th Ret 16th 13th Ret
19951998: Did not compete
1999 Flag of Australia Flag of Brazil Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Spain Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Austria Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Europe Flag of Malaysia Flag of Japan 0 NC
Ret Ret 11th 8th Ret Ret Ret 11th Ret Ret Ret 8th 7th Ret 10th Ret
Key
Symbol Meaning Symbol Meaning
1st Winner Ret Retired
2nd Podium finish DSQ Disqualified
3rd DNQ Did not qualify
5th Points finish DNPQ Did not pre-qualify
14th Non-points finish TD Test driver
Italics Scored point(s) for Fastest Lap DNS Did not start
18th Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) NC Non-classified finish (<90% race distance)
4thP Qualified for pole position [+] More Symbols

Notes[]

  1. Race stopped after 14/81 Laps. Half points awarded
V T E Teams and Drivers
1991 Teams and Drivers
Teams McLarenTyrrellWilliamsBrabhamFootworkLotusFondmetalLeyton HouseAGSBenettonDallaraMinardiLigierFerrariLolaColoniJordanLambo
Engines FerrariFordHondaIlmorJuddLamborghiniPorscheRenaultYamaha
Drivers 1 Senna • 2 Berger • 3 Nakajima • 4 Modena • 5 Mansell • 6 Patrese • 7 Brundle • 8 Blundell • 9 Alboreto • 10 Caffi • 10 Johansson • 11 Häkkinen • 12 Bailey • 12 Herbert • 12 Bartels • 14 Grouillard • 14 Tarquini • 15 Gugelmin • 16 Capelli • 16 Wendlinger • 17 Tarquini • 17 Grouillard • 18 Johansson • 18 Barbazza • 19 Moreno • 19 Schumacher • 20 Piquet • 21 Pirro • 22 Lehto • 23 Martini • 24 Morbidelli • 24 Moreno • 25 Boutsen • 26 Comas • 27 Prost • 27 Morbidelli • 28 Alesi • 29 Bernard • 29 Gachot • 30 Suzuki • 31 Chaves • 31 Hattori • 32 Gachot • 32 Schumacher • 32 Moreno • 32 Zanardi • 33 De Cesaris • 34 Larini • 35 Van de Poele
Other Drivers McNish
1992 Teams and Drivers
Teams McLaren • Tyrrell • Williams • Brabham • Brabham • Footwork • Lotus • Fondmetal • March • Benetton • Dallara • Minardi • Ligier • Ferrari • Venturi • Jordan • Andrea Moda
Engines Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Honda • Ilmor • Judd • Lamborghini • Mugen-Honda • Renault • Yamaha
Entrants Central Park Venturi Larrousse • Scuderia Italia
Drivers 1 Senna • 2 Berger • 3 Grouillard • 4 de Cesaris • 5 Mansell • 6 Patrese • 7/14 van de Poele • 8 Amati • 8 Hill • 9 Alboreto • 10 Suzuki • 11 Häkkinen • 12 Herbert • 14 Chiesa • 15 Tarquini • 16 Wendlinger • 16 Lammers • 17 Belmondo • 17 Naspetti • 19 Schumacher • 20 Brundle • 21 Lehto • 22 Martini • 23 Fittipaldi • 23 Zanardi • 24 Morbidelli • 25 Boutsen • 26 Comas • 27 Alesi • 28 Capelli • 28 Larini • 29 Gachot • 30 Katayama • 32 Modena • 33 Gugelmin • 34 Caffi • 34 Moreno • 35 Bertaggia • 35 McCarthy
1993 Teams and Drivers
Teams WilliamsTyrrellBenettonMcLarenFootworkLotusJordanLarrousseLola (BMS) • MinardiLigierFerrariSauber
Engines FerrariFord CosworthHartLamborghiniMugen-HondaRenaultSauberYamaha
Drivers Hill • 2 Prost • 3 Katayama • 4 De Cesaris • 5 Schumacher • 6 Patrese • 7 Andretti/Häkkinen • 8 Senna • 9 Warwick • 10 A. Suzuki • 11 Zanardi/Lamy • 12 Herbert • 14 Barrichello • 15 Capelli/Boutsen/Apicella/Naspetti/Irvine • 19 Alliot/T. Suzuki • 20 Comas • 21 Alboreto • 22 Badoer • 23 Fittipaldi/Gounon • 24 Barbazza/Martini • 25 Brundle • 26 Blundell • 27 Alesi • 28 Berger • 29 Wendlinger • 30 Lehto
1994 Teams and Drivers
Teams Williams • Tyrrell • Benetton • McLaren • Footwork • Lotus • Jordan • Larrousse • Minardi • Ligier • Ferrari • Sauber • Simtek • Pacific
Engines Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Hart • Ilmor • Mercedes • Mugen-Honda • Peugeot • Renault • Yamaha
Drivers 0 Hill • 2 Senna • 2 Coulthard • 2 Mansell • 3 Katayama • 4 Blundell • 5 Schumacher • 5/6 Lehto • 6 Verstappen • 6 Herbert • 7 Häkkinen • 7 Alliot • 8 Brundle • 9 Fittipaldi • 10 Morbidelli • 11 Lamy • 11/12 Zanardi • 11 Adams • 11 Bernard • 12 Salo • 12 Herbert • 14 Barrichello • 15 Irvine • 15 Suzuki • 15 de Cesaris • 19 Beretta • 19 Alliot • 19 Dalmas • 19 Noda • 20 Comas • 20 Délétraz • 23 Martini • 24 Morbidelli • 25 Bernard • 25 Herbert • 25 Lagorce • 26 Panis • 27 Alesi • 27 Larini • 28 Berger • 29 Wendlinger • 29 de Cesaris • 29 Lehto • 30 Frentzen • 31 Brabham • 32 Ratzenberger • 32 Montermini • 32 Gounon • 32 Schiattarella • 32 Inoue • 33 Belmondo • 34 Gachot
1999 Teams and Drivers
Teams McLarenFerrariWilliamsJordanBenettonSauberArrowsStewartProstMinardiBAR
Engines ArrowsFerrariFord CosworthMercedesMugen-HondaPetronasPeugeotPlaylifeSupertec
Drivers Häkkinen • 2 Coulthard • 3 M. Schumacher/Salo • 4 Irvine • 5 Zanardi • 6 R. Schumacher • 7 Hill • 8 Frentzen • 9 Fisichella • 10 Wurz • 11 Alesi • 12 Diniz • 14 De la Rosa • 15 Takagi • 16 Barrichello • 17 Herbert • 18 Panis • 19 Trulli • 20 Badoer/Sarrazin • 21 Gené • 22 Villeneuve • 23 Zonta/Salo
V T E Minardi
Former Drivers
Martini · De Cesaris · Campos · Nannini · Pérez-Sala · Barilla · Morbidelli · Moreno · Zanardi · Gounon · Barbazza · Alboreto · Lamy · Badoer · Fisichella · Marques · Lavaggi · Trulli · Katayama · Nakano · Tuero · Sarrazin · Gené · Mazzacane · Yoong · Alonso · Davidson · Webber · Wilson · Kiesa · Verstappen · Bruni · Baumgartner · Albers · Friesacher · Doornbos
Cars
M185/M185B · M186 · M187 · M188/M188B · M189 · M190 · M191/M191B · M192 · M193/M193B · M194 · M195/M195B · M197 · M198 · M01 · M02 · PS01/PS01B · PS02 · PS03 · PS04 · PS04B · PS05
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