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Motorsport

Me and Mr Jones

11 hours ago

Writer:

Gavin Green | Journalist

Date:

9 November 2026

‘You can fuck off.’

Those were Alan Jones’ first words to me but, fortunately, not the last.

We were at the Österreichring in August 1980, after the first day of qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix. Jones, who died last week aged 80, was leading the Drivers’ World Championship he’d subsequently go on to win.

I’d just arrived in Europe from Australia, aged 23, to cover the latter stages of Jones’ title quest. He was the prime reason I came to Europe, never to leave.  Alan Jones, it turns out, changed my life.

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