Eddie Jordan: F1 team owner dies at 76 after life-threatening illness
The world of Formula One was thrown into outright shock following the passing of Eddie Jordan at the age of seventy-six after a long illness.
Jordan’s health was cut short after an age-long battle against cancer.
In December, it was revealed that Jordan had gone through some “very dark days” after being diagnosed with “aggressive” bladder and prostate cancer which had spread across his pelvis and spine.
Jordan, who owned a F1 team and a pundit, oversaw the Jordan Grand Prix team between 1991 and 2005 and also, a pundit on BBC’s coverage of Formula 1.
While on vacation in Cape Town, during the winter, Jordan was insistent that his chemotherapy had been in “good shape.”
However, earlier on Thursday, a family statement declared that the Irishman had died in South Africa.
According to the statement: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan, the ex-Formula 1 team owner, TV pundit and entrepreneur.
“He passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20 March 2025.
“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 tones of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow.”
Speaking last month about a conglomerate which had acquired London Irish rugby club out of administration, Jordan got emotional as the chat inched to the chapter of his chemotherapy.
“Sorry guys, just a small thing, thank you,” Jordan said. “I’ve just come out of getting chemotherapy and I’m not 100 per cent together here guys.
“I’m just not myself at this moment in time. I’m a little all over the place, so please forgive me. I just had a big deal of it [chemotherapy] yesterday so I’m sorry – I’m not quite myself.”
Amidst his Formula for success podcast with David Coulthard, where he disclosed his diagnosis in December, 2024, Jordan stated: “This is a little message to everybody listening to this, don’t waste or put it off. Go and get tested, because in life you have got chances. Go and do it.
“Don’t be stupid. Don’t be shy. Look after your body, guys.”
Jake Humphrey, Jordan’s co-host on the BBC, posted a tribute on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “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 travelled the world together years after the team had been sold.
“His incredible spirit and love of life lives on in me, and my children who were lucky enough to meet him and hear all about him. Eddie lit up a room whenever he entered it.
That is a lesson for us all – be the light in the room.
“I was lucky enough to share one, final, cherished meal with him and his boys a few months ago. It was special. We talked about me doing one last interview with him.
Sadly that will never happen. As I left, his departing words were ‘I love you brother’. I love you. Brother.
One of the 3 Amigos is gone.
The world seems a little less bright this morning. Farewell friend. Play the spoons up there for me.”
As the full name reads, Edmund Patrick Jordan was born on 30th March, 1948, to parents Eileen and Paddy.
Following his brief decision to become a priest and resisting family pressure to enter dentistry, Jordan enrolled for six-week accountancy course at the College of Commerce in Dublin where he started to work for the Bank of Ireland.
Meanwhile in 1971, his focus turned to motor racing, and Jordan became victorious at the Irish Kart Championship before scaling up to Formula Ford and then Formula Three.
However, after he could not realize his ambition as a driver, he established Eddie Jordan Racing in 1979, registered among teams in British F3−where he employed Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert−and eventually, Formula 3000.
Brundle’s tribute on Thursday reads: “I’m really sad to hear that Eddie has succumbed to his illness, this has taken him relatively quickly, he was such a character.
We’ll miss him a lot. I first raced for Eddie in F3 in 1983, we hardly had a pound between us, and somehow he hustled and got the car and everything together, and we had a great season that sums him up.
“There are so many drivers that will want to thank him, Eddie Irvine, Jean Alesi, many of us… Eddie gave us a chance in junior racing and promoted us like crazy to get us F1 seats.
“I was lucky enough to drive for him in F1 itself with the Jordan team to close the circle, like Damon Hill, Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, they were given a chance by Eddie due to his entrepreneurial spirit, and his racer’s mentality, he was one of the biggest characters of F1, irrepressible.
“He came through the junior ranks, he was a driver himself, and then he had some teams in F3, he ended up in F1.
He won races, it was such a strong character to have around, a great sense of humor, and then when he had something secret to tell you and he’d whisper it to you, we will remember him for that.
“The sport will be poorer without him, what he achieved, what he achieved, what he stood for and what a racer he was.”
After his short time in minor racing, Jordan then set up his own F1 team, Jordan Grand Prix, in 1991 and battled it all out with seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher in his debut in the same year.
After just a race, Schumacher switched on to rivals Benetton, where the Germa went on to claim his first two titles.
Jordan most remarkable result in the F1 came in 1998 with a one-two finish Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher at the Belgian Grand Prix, when one year later Heinz-Harald Frentzen came third in the world championship−Jordan’s best individual driver finish.
Still after losing an engine deal with hinda in 2002, his team faced financial challenges which led to the sale to Midland Group 2005.
Generally, Jordan GP recorded 250 races in F1, becoming victorious four times.
Jordan eventually became famous and conspicuous figure for fans in F1 in the United Kingdom as a pundit on BBC’s coverage of the sport, with presenter like Humphrey and former F1 driver Coulthard, and earned much love for his flamboyant and direct punditry style.
In March 2012, Jordan was honored with an OBE for service to humanity, charity and motor racing, and most recently, Jordan served as iconic designer Adrian Newey’s manager and haggled his £20m-a-year move from Red Bull to Aston Martin.
Jordan also headed a conglomerate that acquired London Irish rugby club earlier this year
Jordan is survived by his wife Marie, whom he married in 1979, and four children: Miki, Kyle. Zak, Zoe.
Eddie Jordan: F1 Team Owner Dies At 76
