Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan dies aged 76

Former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan has died at the age 76 following a battle against illness, his family has announced.

Jordan had been fighting an aggressive form of bladder and prostate cancer which spread to his spine and the pelvis, revealing his diagnosis last December.

The Irishman was a mainstay of the F1 paddock for nearly four decades, first by running his eponymous Jordan F1 team between 1991 and 2005.

From humble beginnings in F3000, the Jordan squad became a competitive force by the late 1990s, taking a historic 1-2 maiden win at a wet 1998 Belgian Grand Prix with Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher. It preceded what was to become Jordan’s most competitive season in 1999, when it collected two wins with Heinz-Harald Frentzen as both the German and the team achieved their highest finish of third in both championships.

Jordan’s final grand prix win came in odd circumstances at a rain-affected 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, which was suspended early due to the torrential conditions. Jordan’s Giancarlo Fisichella was awarded the race win after the victory was initially given to McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen.

But the team had already been on a steady decline at that point as it lost its Honda engine deal to BAR and struggled to compete financially against the might of the manufacturers. Ahead of the 2006 season, Jordan sold the outfit to the Midland Group, which eventually ended up morphing into Spyker, Force India and then Racing Point. Its latest iteration is the current Aston Martin team, which used Jordan’s original Silverstone base until moving into its new headquarters last year.

After his career as a team boss, Jordan moved into a punditry role on television and was celebrated for his frank and often left-field opinions. He also became a prolific businessman and investor. Due to his developing health issues Jordan reduced his public appearances last year, although he was present when designer Adrian Newey – whom he managed – was announced at Aston Martin in September.

Speaking about his illness in December on the Formula For Success podcast, which he hosted alongside David Coulthard, Jordan said: “We’ve kind of alluded to it over the shows, way back in March and April, I was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, and then it spread into the spine and the pelvis, so it was quite aggressive.

“This is a little message, and everybody listen to this: Don’t waste or put it off. Go and get tested, because in life, you’ve got chances. And there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime. Go and do it. Don’t be stupid. Don’t be shy. It’s not a shy thing. Look after your body, guys.”

Jordan is survived by his wife Marie and four children. In the UK he received an OBE in 2012 for his services to motor racing and charity, having been the patron of child cancer charity CLIC Sargent and the Amber Foundation.

“EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went,” a statement from Jordan’s family read. “We all have a huge hole missing without his presence. He will be missed by so many people, but he leaves us with tonnes of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow.”

Eddie Jordan and John Walton

Photo by: Motorsport Images

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali 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.”