Tributes have been paid to Eddie Jordan after the death of the Irish businessman and former owner of the Silverstone-based Jordan F1 team.
Jordan passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning (20/03) at his house in Cape Town in South Africa, having publicly revealed in December that he had been diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer. He was 76 years old.
The Dublin-born businessman founded the Silverstone-based Jordan Grand Prix F1 team in 1991, having spent the previous few years racing as Eddie Jordan Racing in the F3000 junior series.
The team was able to race in F1 for over a decade, winning four races and managing a best finish of third in the Constructor’s Championship in 1999 before Jordan sold the team just before the start of the 2005 season.
In their time in F1, Jordan became known for giving debuts to a number of talents, most notably future seven time world champion Michael Schumacher, who made his debut for Jordan in 1991.
After multiple ownership changes in the 20 years since, the team now races as Aston Martin F1, having recently moved from the factory set up by the Jordan team when they first joined the sport to a new facility, also at Silverstone.
As well as owning an F1 team, Jordan also established a career as a pundit and broadcaster, working for the BBC and Channel 4 in their F1 coverage between 2009 and 2024, while he also co-hosted the Formula For Success podcast with former F1 racing driver and fellow pundit David Coulthard. He would also remain connected in the F1 business, having served as the manager for acclaimed designer Adrian Newey and helping to broker his move from Red Bull to Aston Martin last year.
Jordan also had business interests outside motorsport, with interests in a multitude of business operations. He was also known as a keen rock music fan, frequently playing the drums.
In a statement confirming his passing, Jordan’s family paid tribute to Jordan, nicknamed EJ. They said, “EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went. We all have a huge hole missing without his presence. He will be missed by so many people, but he leaves us with tons of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow.”
Andy Cowell, Team Principal of the Aston Martin team that can trace its lineage back to Jordan’s ascent to F1 in 1991, was among several figures to pay tribute.
Cowell said, “Eddie Jordan was one of the all-time motorsport greats. He was a one-off, a wonderful human being, and a charismatic leader who founded this team and took it to F1 in 1991. His vision laid the foundations for us and he leaves a lasting legacy for the entire motorsport community. Today we pay tribute to a legend of the sport and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.”
Lawrence Stroll, the Executive Chairman and owner of the Aston Martin F1 team, also paid tribute by saying, “Eddie Jordan was a true racer, a great leader, and one of the biggest characters in our sport. He was a friend who I have known for more than thirty years and I will miss him greatly. My thoughts, and those of everybody at Aston Martin, are with his family and friends.”
Aston Martin also have additional decals on the rear wings of their race cars for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix as a tribute to Jordan.
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, said, “We are deeply saddened to hear about the sudden loss of Eddie Jordan. With his inexhaustible energy he always knew how to make people smile, remaining genuine and brilliant at all times. Eddie has been a protagonist of an era of F1 and he will be deeply missed.
“In this moment of sorrow, my thoughts and those of the entire Formula 1 family are with his family and loved ones.”
Former world champion driver Damon Hill, who raced for Jordan and won the team their first race in 1998, was also among those who paid tribute. He said, “We’re all very sad and shocked. We knew Eddie was fighting the disease and while we knew it was serious, we thought there might be a chance he would win, but sadly he has lost that. There will never be another like Eddie Jordan, You’ll hear about what he is like.
“My thoughts go to the Jordan family who are lovely people. Eddie was a huge influence on me and many people in motorsport and around the world, there will never be another like him.”
TV presenter Jake Humphrey, who worked with Jordan for the BBC’s F1 coverage between 2009 and 2012, said on social media, “Utterly devastated. EJ has left us. Formula One won’t see the likes of Eddie ever again where a guy with a love for racing can hustle his way into the sport and end up winning races.
“More important than race wins though, he won hearts. I will never forget how his face would always light up whenever he saw a Jordan GP jacket, flag or cap… as we traveled the world together years after the team had been sold. His greatest achievements were Mikki, Zoe, Kyle and Zak. His incredible 4 kids who share his spirit. His wife Marie is one of the strongest, most wonderful women I have ever met.
“The 4 years we spent together hosting F1 on the BBC were greatest of my career. Wing-walking, scooter riding, car driving madness that I know he loved deeply.”
His fellow pundit and podcaster Coulthard also paid tribute, saying, “Eddie Jordan was a force to be reckoned with beyond what anyone could expect in Formula 1. He was a gift to Formula 1 & he was a gift to Ireland.
“There will be endless people telling Eddie Jordan stories as long as there is still Formula 1 around. It has been an honour calling him and friend & all of our love to his family & his four children, Mikki, Zoe, Kyle & Zak.”