Eddie Jordan has passed away at the age of 76.
From leading an F1 team to becoming a brilliant pundit, let’s take a look back at his incredible career.
Jordan's motorsport journey began behind the wheel as a racing driver, competing in categories such as Formula Ford, Formula 3, and Formula 2. He also earned the opportunity to race in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. By the end of the 1970s, his focus shifted towards forming his own racing team. He steadily climbed the ranks until he secured entry onto the F1 grid for the 1991 season.
He famously gave seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher his debut at Spa-Francorchamps in 1991 (before Benetton poached him for the next round), as well as providing a platform for Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher to showcase their talents. With sharp business acumen, he secured strong sponsorship deals and lured top talents like Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, and Martin Brundle to his team.
Jordan had to wait three years for their first podium finish, courtesy of Barrichello at the 1994 Pacific Grand Prix, where he finished behind that season’s champion, Schumacher, and Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger. It wasn’t until another four long years later that Damon Hill took the Jordan squad to the top step of the podium. It was a historic 1-2 finish for the team, with both drivers surviving the torrential rain at Spa in 1998.
Top honors were few and far between for Jordan, but their best season came in 1999 when Heinz-Harald Frentzen stormed to two victories and miraculously finished third in the championship, beating the likes of David Coulthard in the McLaren. Their fourth and final victory came in 2003 when Giancarlo Fisichella survived treacherous conditions in Brazil. Initially, Fisichella was classified in second place, but after a review of the race’s chaotic Safety Car period, he was officially awarded the victory days later.
As fortunes declined, Jordan decided to sell the team in early 2005 to the Midland Group in a $60 million deal. The team was renamed Midland F1 Racing in 2006, sold again to Dutch group Spyker in 2007, and then became Force India in 2008. Under various guises (Force India/Racing Point), the team competed until 2020, when Aston Martin took over for good.
Eddie Jordan’s career in Formula One didn’t end in 2005. In 2009, he was announced as a pundit for BBC’s F1 broadcasts. He covered major stories, including Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes, and became known for his straightforward, honest approach, making sure he was always unapologetically himself. He continued in a similar role when broadcasting rights moved to Channel 4 and later launched a podcast, Formula For Success, with former F1 driver and long-time friend David Coulthard.
One of Jordan’s last and most significant contributions to the world of motorsport was acting as Adrian Newey’s manager. He facilitated Newey’s release from Red Bull and played a key role in negotiations with other teams, ultimately securing Newey’s move to Aston Martin.
Eddie Jordan brought more than just a team to Formula One. He brought his passion, charisma and unfiltered honesty to the sport for over three decades. His legacy and lasting impact in the world of motorsport will never be forgotten.