Martin Brundle, Toto Wolff and Stefano Domenicali lead emotional Alex Zanardi tributes

Alex Zanardi, BMW Team RMR

Stefano Domenicali

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Alex Zanardi," the F1 CEO said in a statement.

"He was truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete. I will always carry with me his extraordinary strength.

"He faced challenges that would have stopped anyone, yet he continued to look forward, always with a smile and a stubborn determination that inspired us all.

"While his loss is profoundly felt, his legacy remains strong. At this time, my heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his wife Daniela, his son Niccolò, the rest of the family and all those who had the privilege of knowing him."

Toto Wolff

"In motor racing, we talk a lot about courage. Every now and then you meet someone who truly defines what that means. Alex Zanardi was that person," Wolff said.

"As a young racing driver, I admired Alex’s skills behind-the-wheel. What he achieved, particularly in America, showed what a talent he was. What he achieved after his accident was even more inspiring, though. He showed that even when life challenges you, it does not have to define you. That adversity can be overcome with humility, humour and optimism.

"His example will continue to inspire and act as a reminder of what true courage really looks like."

Naomi Schiff

"I was fortunate to race for his kart team alongside Nyck de Vries and met him on a couple of occasions," former W Series driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Schiff said.

"He's a wonderful character - quite funny, brutally honest when he needed to be - but he redefined what a life in sport can look like and to show how you can continue on after something unfortunate."

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