Sir Jack Brabham passes away

Triple Formula 1 world champion, Sir Jack Brabham (pictured left), has passed away at the age of 88.

A statement issued by the Brabham family said that the Australian had died at his home on Australia's Gold Coast on Monday morning.

After a number of years racing in Australia and New Zealand, Brabham moved to the UK and made his Grand Prix debut in 1955 with the Cooper team. It wasn't until 1959 that Brabham won his first Formula 1 race (the season-opening 1959 Monaco Grand Prix) and championship with the Cooper squad.

Once again in 1960, Brabham secured a second World Drivers' Championship win behind the wheel of a Cooper car.

In addition to being one of the few drivers who, like Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet, have won three Formula 1 drivers' titles, Brabham was also the only man in Formula 1 history to have driven a self-designed car (the Brabham BT19) to the F1 title in 1966.

Brabham scored his last F1 win at the 1970 South African Grand Prix, the year he announced his retirement from the sport.

Brabham was knighted for his services to motor sport in 1979, and while he sold his team to Bernie Ecclestone after his retirement, the Brabham team name remained in Formula 1 until the 1990s.

His son David Brabham said: "He lived an incredible life, achieving more than anyone would ever dream of. He will continue to live on through the astounding legacy he leaves behind."

Brabham is survived by his wife Lady Margaret, and sons Geoff, Gary and David and their families.