Alan Jones F1 stats & info

Alan Jones F1 stats, Bio, career info, Wins & Titles

NameAlan Jones
CountryAustralia Australia
Height1.83 meter / 6 feet
Place of BirthMelbourne
Date of BirthNov 2nd 1946 - 78 years old
Season Entries10
Car Number15
First Race1975 Spanish F1 GP
Last Race1986 Australian F1 GP
First Pole1979 British F1 GP
Last Pole1980 German F1 GP
First Win1977 Austrian F1 GP
Last Win1981 Caesars Palace F1 GP
First Win from Pole1979 Canadian F1 GP
Last Win from Pole1980 Argentine F1 GP
First Hat-trick1979 Canadian F1 GP
Last Hat-trick1980 Argentine F1 GP

F1 Teams HistoryHesketh (1975)
Hill (1975)
Surtees (1976)
Shadow (1977)
Williams (1978-1981)
Arrows (1983)
Lola (1985-1986)

Alan Jones F1 Stats

Drivers' Titles1
Grand Prix Entries117
Grand Prix Starts116
Total Points206.00
Avg. Points per GP1.76
Grand Prix Wins12 (10,3%)
Wins from pole2 (1,7%)
Pole Positions6 (5,1%)
Front Row Starts13 (11,1%)
Avg. GP Grid11.3
GP Podiums24 (20,5%)
GP Fastest Laps13 (11,1%)
GP Points Finish39 (33,3%)
Avg. GP Position6.2
Hat-tricks2 (1,7%)
GP Retirements52 (44,4%)
GP DNF's47 (40,2%)
Total GP Laps5.555


Biography

Alan Jones Biography


Alan Jones during the 1976 British F1 GP

Alan Jones during the 1976 British F1 GP

Alan Jones won the 1980 Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship.

Born on the 2nd of November in Melbourne, Australia, Alan Jones’ racing roots began at a really early age. His father, Stan, was part of Australia’s elite class of drivers in the 1950s, which propelled Alan’s passion for the sport. Although his father was a winner of the non-championship Australian Grand Prix and had a car dealership, Alan’s racing career presented many issues related to economics.

He started off with karting, as many champions do, but it was not until after his mid-20s when he established his racing career in Europe after many sacrifices and working tirelessly.

George Robinson was vital in Jones’ initial phases in racing, as he would provide Vegantune engines for the Australian. In 1972, he competed driving Formula Three cars in different series, without impressive results. His tough mentality and aggressive driving helped him and slowly but surely he improved his craft, all while renting rooms for foreigners and preparing breakfast for them alongside Beverley, his wife at the time.

In 1973, he entered the John Player Formula 3 Series, in which he finished second overall behind the wheel of a Group Racing Developments’ 373. Alan’s father died in 1973 and Jones put the Laurel Wreath from his F3 victory at Silverstone in his father’s coffin.

Alan Jones racing the Williams FW06 Ford in Buenos Aires (1978)

Alan Jones racing the Williams FW06 Ford in Buenos Aires (1978)

The following year, he competed in the Formula Atlantic with a March 74B, finishing second in the championship. Also in 1974, he went on to race in the F5000 with a Chevron B24. Harry Stiller who was a British Formula Three champion, helped Jones get into Formula 1 in 1975, providing the Australian talent with a Hesketh 308.

Jones’ Formula 1 debut came in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. He started the race from 20th and retired on lap three. The race at the Montjuïc circuit is well-remembered for bad reasons, as five persons’ lives were taken away after German Rolf Stommelen crashed and his car went into the crowd.

After four races, the Hesketh car was not available anymore and Jones went on to race for Embassy Racing, Graham Hill’s team. He completed four races with the two-time champion’s team and finished fifth at the Nürburgring in what was his last start of the season.

For 1976, John Surtees came calling and Jones spent the season with the team. The results were not spectacular as Jones scored points in only three races. At the end of the year, Jones and Surtees, who did not get along well, parted ways, although Jones was the only Surtees’ driver to score points during the year.

After missing the first three races of 1977, Shadow offered a seat to Jones after the tragic death of Tom Pryce at South Africa. Jones took the most of the opportunity and went on to take his first Grand Prix win with a triumph in a difficult 1977 Austrian Grand Prix from 14th on the grid. It was Shadow’s only win in their F1 journey.

Jones ended the year flawlessly, with a third place in the 1977 Italian Grand Prix and two fourth places in a row at Canada and Japan. After almost ending up at Ferrari for 1978 (the Italian team signed Gilles Villeneuve instead), AJ signed with Williams, which was not yet a force to be reckoned with in the sport at that time.

He was the only Williams driver in 1978 and delivered the team’s first podium since it was finally established as the Williams we know today (opposed to Frank Williams Racing Cars, which was the original project). Also, he won the Can-Am Challenge Cup in 1978 with Haas-Hall racing.

A good 1978 was followed by a strong season for Jones and Williams thanks to the ground-effect FW07. Now with Clay Regazzoni as his teammate, Jones achieved his first (and the team’s first) Pole Position with a solid drive in the 1979 British Grand Prix. However, a water pump failure prevented him from delivering the team’s first win and it was Regazzoni instead who won the race at Silverstone.

Alan Jones may quit as 'disillusioned' F1 steward

Alan Jones, Williams FW06-Ford, 1978 USA GP, Long Beach (1978-1979)

Then, Jones had a streak of three consecutive wins after his great drives at Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. A ninth place in the 1979 Italian Grand Prix ended his winning streak, but he recovered and started from Pole in the last two races of the year, winning the second-to-last GP at Canada. AJ finished third in the 1979 World Drivers’ Championship, but he was hoping for more.

With 1980, the FW07B —which was a development of the car of 1979— came in and Jones made the most of it. Starting the year with victory at Argentina in the inaugural race and following up with two other podiums in the first five starts, Jones was clearly looking for the title. He was two points behind the championship leader René Arnoux after the first five races and he needed consistency to take the trophy home.

After retiring from the next race at Monaco, Jones picked up another gear for the end of the season. He won consecutively in France and Great Britain to take the championship lead from Nelson Piquet, who took it after the Monaco race.

Third in Germany after starting from Pole and second place in Austria continued his run of good results. However, a bad outing in the 1980 Dutch Grand Prix helped Piquet close the gap in the WDC to two points with three races left.

Then, Piquet won at Imola to take the title lead away from the Australian, However, the Brazilian’s quest ended desperately in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, where he qualified on Pole and was leading before his car, which was set up mostly for qualifying, had engine failure.

In the then called Circuit Île Notre-Dame —current Circuit Gilles Villeneuve— Jones crossed the line second behind Didier Pironi’s Ligier. However, the Frenchman had jumped the start and was given a 60-second penalty, which made Jones the winner and secured the title for him with one race to spare.

Although a win awarded nine points and Piquet was behind juts eight points heading into the final race, the title was decided in favour of Jones. Due to the scoring system of that year only counting the best five results from the first and last seven races towards the championship, Piquet had no chance. The Brazilian had already scored points in five races in the second half of the year, which meant he would lose two points —fifth place at Austria— if he was able to win the last race and it was not going to be enough against Jones.

Alan Jones, Williams FW07-Ford leads John Watson's McLaren M26. 1979 Austrian GP, Osterreichring

Williams FW07-Ford driven by Alan Jones, leads John Watson's McLaren M26. 1979 Austrian GP, Osterreichring
(1979-1980)

Jones won the last race of the year at Watkins Glen and ended his title-winning season with five wins and ten podiums.

Although he started 1981 with even better results than 1980 in the first few races, his results regressed during the year and he could only finish third in the WDC, behind Piquet and his teammate Carlos Reutemann, with whom Jones had some issues.

Jones informed Frank Williams during the 1981 Italian Grand Prix —where he arrived with a broken finger after a fight with thieves in England— that he was retiring at the end of the year. In the last race, in Las Vegas, Jones dominated on Sunday with a 20-second gap over second-placed Alain Prost.

He competed in the Bathurst 1000 in 1982. Then, he left his farm in Australia and returned to the pinnacle of racing for a race with Arrows. He tried to race with a broken femur, but promises of a big sponsor did not look clear and he did not compete for the team again.

He retired again, but then returned in 1985 with Team Haas. However, in 19 races, his best finishes were fourth in the 1986 Austrian Grand Prix and sixth in the following race, the 1986 Italian Grand Prix.

After retiring from F1 for good, he competed in the 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota, but could not finish the race. He kept participating in the Bathurst 1000 as well as other series like the V8 Supercar Championship and the Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship.

Later he became a media member, working as a commentator during the Australian coverage of Formula 1 and various Australian Motorcycle Grands Prix. Also, he has worked as FIA steward in some races, although he said in 2019 he was “disillusioned” with the sport and might quit.

“I think I was pretty aggressive… I took things very personally. Like if someone passed me, I took it personally... If I saw a car in front of me, that was just an object to be passed… To me it was just ahead to be passed, that was it.”

Seasons

 

Alan Jones Final Championship Results

1975197619771978197919801981198319851986
17th15th7th11th3rd1st3rd27th24th12th

 

Alan Jones F1 Seasons Summary

YearTeamEngineGP1st2nd3rdPodPoleLapsFLAvg PtsPoints
1986 United Kingdom Lola
United Kingdom Lola
Hart
Ford
160000044600.254
1985 United Kingdom Lola Hart3000003900.000
1983 United Kingdom Arrows Ford1000005800.000
1981 United Kingdom Williams Ford152316082753.0746
1980 United Kingdom Williams Ford1453210375755.0771
1979 United Kingdom Williams Ford154015381212.8743
1978 United Kingdom Williams Ford160101077120.6911
1977 United Kingdom Shadow Ford141012073001.5722
1976 United Kingdom Surtees Ford140000078100.507
1975 United Kingdom Hesketh
United Kingdom Hill
Ford
Ford
80000033400.252

Races

 

Alan Jones F1 GP Race Classifications

1st12 Times
2nd7 Times
3rd5 Times
4th8 Times
5th5 Times
6th2 Times
7th3 Times
8th3 Times
9th5 Times
10th4 Times
11th5 Times
12th2 Times
13th3 Times
16th2 Times
17th2 Times
DNF47 Times
NC1 Time
DNS1 Time

 

Alan Jones F1 GP Race Results

YearRaceNoTeamEngineGridPosRetiredPts
11719861986 Australian F1 GP15LolaFord15DNFEngine0
11619861986 Mexican F1 GP15LolaFord15DNFTyre0
11519861986 Portuguese F1 GP15LolaFord17DNFBrakes/Spin0
11419861986 Italian F1 GP15LolaFord1861
11319861986 Austrian F1 GP15LolaFord1643
11219861986 Hungarian F1 GP15LolaFord10DNFDifferential0
11119861986 German F1 GP15LolaFord1990
11019861986 British F1 GP15LolaFord14DNFThrottle0
10919861986 French F1 GP15LolaFord20DNFAccident0
10819861986 Detroit F1 GP15LolaFord21DNFSteering0
10719861986 Canadian F1 GP15LolaFord13100
10619861986 Belgian F1 GP15LolaFord1611Out of Fuel0
10519861986 Monaco F1 GP15LolaFord18DNFAccident0
10419861986 San Marino F1 GP15LolaFord21DNFOverheating0
10319861986 Spanish F1 GP15LolaHart17DNFCollision0
10219861986 Brazilian F1 GP15LolaHart19DNFInjection0
10119851985 Australian F1 GP33LolaHart19DNFElectrical0
10019851985 South African F1 GP33LolaHart18DNSUnwell0
9919851985 European F1 GP33LolaHart22DNFRadiator0
9819851985 Italian F1 GP33LolaHart25DNFEngine0
9719831983 USA West F1 GP30ArrowsFord12DNFDriver Unwell0
9619811981 Caesars Palace F1 GP1WilliamsFord219
9519811981 Canadian F1 GP1WilliamsFord3DNFHandling0
9419811981 Italian F1 GP1WilliamsFord526
9319811981 Dutch F1 GP1WilliamsFord434
9219811981 Austrian F1 GP1WilliamsFord643
9119811981 German F1 GP1WilliamsFord4110
9019811981 British F1 GP1WilliamsFord7DNFcollision0
8919811981 French F1 GP1WilliamsFord917collision0
8819811981 Spanish F1 GP1WilliamsFord270
8719811981 Monaco F1 GP1WilliamsFord726
8619811981 Belgian F1 GP1WilliamsFord6DNFAccident0
8519811981 San Marino F1 GP1WilliamsFord8120
8419811981 Argentine F1 GP1WilliamsFord343
8319811981 Brazilian F1 GP1WilliamsFord326
8219811981 USA West F1 GP1WilliamsFord219
8119801980 USA F1 GP27WilliamsFord519
8019801980 Canadian F1 GP27WilliamsFord219
7919801980 Italian F1 GP27WilliamsFord626
7819801980 Dutch F1 GP27WilliamsFord4110
7719801980 Austrian F1 GP27WilliamsFord326
7619801980 German F1 GP27WilliamsFord134
7519801980 British F1 GP27WilliamsFord319
7419801980 French F1 GP27WilliamsFord419
7319801980 Monaco F1 GP27WilliamsFord3DNFDifferential0
7219801980 Belgian F1 GP27WilliamsFord126
7119801980 USA West F1 GP27WilliamsFord5DNFAccident0
7019801980 South African F1 GP27WilliamsFord8DNFGearbox0
6919801980 Brazilian F1 GP27WilliamsFord1034
6819801980 Argentine F1 GP27WilliamsFord119
6719791979 USA F1 GP27WilliamsFord1DNFWheel0
6619791979 Canadian F1 GP27WilliamsFord119
6519791979 Italian F1 GP27WilliamsFord490
6419791979 Dutch F1 GP27WilliamsFord219
6319791979 Austrian F1 GP27WilliamsFord219
6219791979 German F1 GP27WilliamsFord219
6119791979 British F1 GP27WilliamsFord1DNFWater Pump0
6019791979 French F1 GP27WilliamsFord743
5919791979 Monaco F1 GP27WilliamsFord9DNFSteering0
5819791979 Belgian F1 GP27WilliamsFord4DNFElectrical0
5719791979 Spanish F1 GP27WilliamsFord13DNFGearbox0
5619791979 USA West F1 GP27WilliamsFord1034
5519791979 South African F1 GP27WilliamsFord19DNFSuspension0
5419791979 Brazilian Grand F1 GP27WilliamsFord13DNFFuel System0
5319791979 Argentine F1 GP27WilliamsFord1590
5219781978 Canadian F1 GP27WilliamsFord590
5119781978 USA F1 GP27WilliamsFord326
5019781978 Italian F1 GP27WilliamsFord6130
4919781978 Dutch F1 GP27WilliamsFord11DNFThrottle0
4819781978 Austrian F1 GP27WilliamsFord15DNFAccident0
4719781978 German F1 GP27WilliamsFord6DNFFuel System0
4619781978 British F1 GP27WilliamsFord6DNFTransmission0
4519781978 French F1 GP27WilliamsFord1452
4419781978 Swedish F1 GP27WilliamsFord9DNFWheel0
4319781978 Spanish F1 GP27WilliamsFord1880
4219781978 Belgian F1 GP27WilliamsFord11100
4119781978 Monaco F1 GP27WilliamsFord10DNFOil Leak0
4019781978 USA West F1 GP27WilliamsFord870
3919781978 South African F1 GP27WilliamsFord1843
3819781978 Brazilian F1 GP27WilliamsFord8110
3719781978 Argentine F1 GP27WilliamsFord14DNFFuel System0
3619771977 Japanese F1 GP17ShadowFord1243
3519771977 Canadian F1 GP17ShadowFord743
3419771977 USA F1 GP17ShadowFord13DNFAccident0
3319771977 Italian F1 GP17ShadowFord1634
3219771977 Dutch F1 GP17ShadowFord13DNFEngine0
3119771977 Austrian F1 GP17ShadowFord1419
3019771977 German F1 GP17ShadowFord17DNFAccident0
2919771977 British F1 GP17ShadowFord1270
2819771977 French F1 GP17ShadowFord10DNFTransmission0
2719771977 Swedish F1 GP17ShadowFord11170
2619771977 Belgian F1 GP17ShadowFord1752
2519771977 Monaco F1 GP17ShadowFord1161
2419771977 Spanish F1 GP17ShadowFord14DNFAccident0
2319771977 USA West F1 GP17ShadowFord14DNFGearbox0
2219761976 Japanese F1 GP19SurteesFord2043
2119761976 USA F1 GP19SurteesFord1880
2019761976 Canadian F1 GP19SurteesFord20160
1919761976 Italian F1 GP19SurteesFord18120
1819761976 Dutch F1 GP19SurteesFord1680
1719761976 Austrian F1 GP19SurteesFord15DNFAccident0
1619761976 German F1 GP19SurteesFord1410No Time0
1519761976 British F1 GP19SurteesFord1952
1419761976 French F1 GP19SurteesFord18DNFSuspension0
1319761976 Swedish F1 GP19SurteesFord18130
1219761976 Monaco F1 GP19SurteesFord0DNFCollision0
1119761976 Belgian F1 GP19SurteesFord1652
1019761976 Spanish F1 GP19SurteesFord2090
919761976 USA West F1 GP19SurteesFord19NCNo Time0
819751975 German F1 GP22HillFord2152
719751975 British F1 GP22HillFord28100
619751975 French F1 GP22HillFord20160
519751975 Dutch F1 GP22HillFord17130
419751975 Swedish F1 GP26HeskethFord19110
319751975 Belgian F1 GP26HeskethFord13DNFAccident0
219751975 Monaco F1 GP26HeskethFord18DNFWheel0
119751975 Spanish F1 GP25HeskethFord20DNFAccident0

Cars

 

Latest Alan Jones F1 Cars


Comparison

 

Alan Jones Teammate Comparison

YearTeamTeam MateBest PosPointsWinsPolesPosQuali
1975HeskethJames Hunt11110000001304
Torsten Palm11100000001120
HillTony Brise572000002204
1976SurteesBrett Lunger51040000083101
Conny Andersson8250000001010
Divina Galica5282000001010
Henri Pescarolo592000008180
Noritake Takahara493000001010
1977ShadowArturo Merzario1229010001010
Jackie Oliver1790000000110
Jean-Pierre Jarier2690000000110
Renzo Zorzi15180000002020
Riccardo Patrese3613100007263
1979WilliamsClay Regazzoni1143324130105150
1980WilliamsCarlos Reutemann117149513010486
Desiré Wilson1279010001010
Geoff Lees1279010001010
Kevin Cogan1289010001010
Rupert Keegan1943030107070
1981WilliamsCarlos Reutemann114649220278510
1983ArrowsMarc Surer1450200000110
1986LolaEddie Cheever19180000000101
Patrick Tambay4542000069411

News

 

Latest Alan Jones News


Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Ex-F1 Champions Debate Modern Era's Challenges and Changes

Dec.21 - As Christmas and a rare moment of quiet in Formula 1 approaches, three former drivers have revealed their feelings about the state of the sport today. Alan Jones, the..

December 21, 2023

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Jones doubts Ricciardo's F1 return as he makes first Melbourne appearance

Mar.29 - 1980 world champion Alan Jones doubts fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo will return to the Formula 1 grid. Ricciardo, 33, will make his first on-site appearance at a..

March 29, 2023

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Champions slam Ricciardo over F1 replay criticism

Dec.2 - Two former world champions have slammed Daniel Ricciardo for his stinging rebuke of the way Formula 1 handled the replays of Romain Grosjean's fiery crash. Australian..

December 2, 2020

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

WilliamsF1's TOP 10 by Jonathan Williams - No. 3

And so we face the final three in Jonny Williams' list of all-time favourite WilliamsF1 GPs. Flashback to Zandvoort, Holland, 1979, and that glorious summer for Williams Grand..

June 21, 2020

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Alan Jones may quit as 'disillusioned' F1 steward

"Disillusioned" 1980 world champion Alan Jones has indicated he might quit as a Formula 1 steward. The outspoken Australian, who is 72, told speedcafe.com that he may step down so..

August 23, 2019

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

F1 with Peter Windsor - Austria2. When Williams were winners

A bonus Austrian GP Heritage Highlight as Peter Windsor records the 1979 race. Won by the devastatingly fast Williams FW07 of Alan Jones, it also featured a stunning performance..

June 28, 2019

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Alan Jones 2019 Beyond the Grid interview

He’s renowned as one of racing’s toughest nuts – a driver who gave his all on the race track and didn’t suffer fools off it. And this week on F1’s official podcast,..

April 24, 2019

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Marko to block Ferrari switch for Ricciardo

Mar.19 - Red Bull has completely ruled out suggestions it faces losing Daniel Ricciardo at the end of the year. After the similar rumours of 2015, a potential move to Maranello..

March 19, 2016

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Manager: Raikkonen needs strong start to 2016

Mar.17 - Kimi Raikkonen's manager has admitted 2016 will be a crucial year for the 2007 world champion. Most pundits are predicting that, if Ferrari is able to match Mercedes'..

March 17, 2016

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

Ricciardo on course to join Australia’s F1 heroes

The meteoric rise to stardom of Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo has stuttered somewhat of late, but anyone harbouring concerns about the 26-year-old’s driving ability need only..

November 11, 2015

Read more Alan Jones News »

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