Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan dies aged 76

Former Formula 1 team owner and charismatic paddock figure Eddie Jordan has passed away at the age of 76.

In a statement, motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, hailed Jordan as “a legend of Formula 1”, acknowledging his “invaluable contribution” to the sport.

The Irishman had been battling aggressive prostate cancer and passed away on Thursday morning in Cape Town, according to a statement from his family.

A Giant of the Sport

Damon Hill, who secured Jordan Grand Prix’s first F1 victory in 1998, paid tribute to his former boss on BBC Radio Five Live.

“Eddie was a huge influence on me and so many people in motorsport. There will never be another like him,” said the 1996 world champion.

“He was gregarious, irreverent, and crazy in the best possible way. He never wasted a second of his life, always energising those around him. His impact was immense.”

From Racer to Team Owner

Born in Dublin, Jordan initially worked in banking before turning to motorsport, winning the Irish Kart Championship in 1971. His own racing career saw him rise to Formula 2, but it was as a team boss that he truly made his mark.

He founded Eddie Jordan Racing in 1979, developing future stars in the British junior ranks. Notably, his 1983 British F3 squad saw Martin Brundle go head-to-head with Ayrton Senna. In 1989, Jordan’s team won the Formula 3000 title with Jean Alesi.

Taking on F1

In 1991, Jordan entered Formula 1 with his own team—Jordan Grand Prix. Despite a limited budget, the squad immediately turned heads with the sleek and effective 191 chassis, scoring two fourth-place finishes with Andrea de Cesaris in its debut season.

That same year, Jordan gave a young Michael Schumacher his first F1 start at the Belgian Grand Prix. Though Schumacher’s race lasted just one lap due to a clutch failure, his stunning qualifying performance caught the attention of rival teams, leading to a legal battle before he was poached by Benetton—a move that kickstarted his legendary career.

By the mid-’90s, the team had become a formidable midfield force. A high-profile sponsorship deal with Benson & Hedges brought bold liveries and off-track theatrics that matched Jordan’s own flamboyant personality.

Breakthrough Victories and Glory Days

Jordan’s breakthrough win came in 1998 at the rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix, with Damon Hill leading home teammate Ralf Schumacher for a stunning one-two finish. A year later, the team reached its peak—Heinz-Harald Frentzen won twice and finished third in the drivers’ championship, while Jordan Grand Prix also claimed third in the constructors’ standings.

Though financial struggles and internal conflicts saw the team’s fortunes decline, Jordan managed one final upset victory in 2003, when Giancarlo Fisichella triumphed in a chaotic, rain-hit Brazilian Grand Prix.

The End of an Era

By 2005, Jordan sold his team to the Midland Group. The squad changed hands several times before evolving into its current form as Aston Martin, still based at the original Jordan premises in Silverstone.