Eddie Jordan - pictures in the life of a Formula 1 icon

BBC News

20-03-2025

Ex-Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan passed away on Thursday in Cape Town aged 76 after a battle with cancer.A former racer, the Irishman went on to become the owner of one of Formula 1's plucky underdogs.Jordan helped launch the careers of many racers, including Eddie Irvine and, of course, Michael Schumacher.One of the sport's most colourful and flamboyant characters, here is Jordan's life in pictures.
Jordan was a keen racer and competed in Formula 3 before he broke a leg in an accident at Mallory Park in 1976.After a brief return behind the wheel, he set up his own race team after hanging up his helmet, and gave a platform for drivers such as Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert in the junior categories such as Formula 3.
Jordan stepped up to the big leagues in Formula 1 in the 1991 season, in an iconic Irish green livery.He hired Andrea de Cesaris and Bertrand Gachot as his drivers for his debut campaign, but one of those drivers would not see out the season...
In perhaps his most famous move, Jordan handed a Formula 1 debut to a promising, yet unknown rookie called Michael Schumacher after Gachot was sent to prison for an altercation with a taxi driver in London mid-season.Schumacher only competed in one race for Jordan, at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, before Benetton swooped for the young driver, but the Irishman had played a pivotal role for the German who would go on to become a seven-time world champion.
Jordan Grand Prix signed Northern Ireland's Eddie Irvine and talented Brazilian Rubens Barrichello for 1994.Barrichello claimed the team's first Formula 1 podium at the Pacific Grand Prix, but was lucky to escape with his life after an accident at the San Marino Grand Prix - a day before the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in one of the darkest weekends in the sport's history.Both Barrichello and Irvine picked up podiums the following year as the team continued to rise.
Jordan's first Grand Prix victory came at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, where his team not only secured the win but a one-two finish in a chaotic race.At a rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps, in a race punctuated by crashes and a red flag, Damon Hill led home team-mate Ralf Schumacher for one of the most memorable victories of the decade.
After their first win, Formula 1's plucky underdogs became unlikely title challengers in 1999.Heinz-Harald Frentzen scored two podiums in the opening two races to spark a season to remember for Jordan.Victories in France and Italy, along with podiums in Germany and Belgium, put the German driver in title contention before he fell away in the closing three races of the season.Frentzen finished third in the drivers' championship, and Jordan were third in the constructors' standings - their best ever result.
As well as a big player in Formula 1, Jordan was a keen musician and played drums in a band.He would often be more than happy to put on a show at Formula 1 events, and he was perfectly on brand here with his Jordan colours in 2002.
Jordan's fourth and final Grand Prix victory came at the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix with Giancarlo Fisichella. It was another memorable win in the team's 200th Grand Prix, but they would not stand on the top step again.After a drop off in results in 2004, Jordan sold his team to Midland and their final season under the Jordan Grand Prix banner was in 2005. His team evolved from Jordan to Midland, Spyker and then Force India, which eventually become Racing Point and Aston Martin today.
Jordan was as colourful and outspoken as a TV pundit as he was a team owner.An integral role of the BBC's Formula 1 coverage, he was taken for a plunge by Sebastian Vettel at the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix.He would later have a stint presenting Top Gear on the BBC, where his Irish charm brought him to a whole new audience.
Jordan was still a presence in the Formula 1 paddock after hanging up the TV mic. He played an influential role as legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey left Red Bull for the ambitious project at Aston Martin - formerly Jordan's F1 team.Formula 1 will never witness a character quite like Jordan ever again.