A number of tributes have been paid by senior figures in Formula 1, following the death of former team owner and pundit Eddie Jordan.
The founder of the Jordan Grand Prix team passed away in Cape Town on Thursday at the age of 76, following a battle with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Jordan’s eponymous team entered 250 grands prix and took four victories — with a best finish of third place in the drivers’ and constructors’ championship — before he sold it in 2005 and went on to become a TV pundit and entrepreneur.
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“We are deeply saddened to hear about the sudden loss of Eddie Jordan,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said. “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.”
One of Jordan’s adversaries in the 1990s and early 2000s was Benetton and Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who helped secure Michael Schumacher’s services from Jordan in 1991.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Eddie Jordan,” Briatore said. “Eddie was a great individual, who for decades always brought a smile to the entire F1 paddock. I have fond memories of the time spent on and off the track with Eddie and his presence across the entire F1 world will be greatly missed. At this sad time, my thoughts are with his friends and family.”
While Jordan raced against Briatore, his more recent interactions with the current paddock came from his punditry role, having worked in British television from 2009.
“Very sorry to hear Eddie Jordan has sadly passed,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner posted. “Eddie was a hugely colorful character who I first met in 1991 as a young driver at his then new factory after his first year in Formula 1. His advice, ‘get a good sponsor… welcome to the Piranha Club!’
“I was fortunate to overlap with him when I came into Formula 1. He was in the twilight of his F1 career race wise (indeed he even tried to sell me his team!) but went into other media activities where he was always full of energy and fun to work with. Formula 1 has lost a legend and we will miss his wit and his Irish charm.
“On behalf of Oracle Red Bull Racing we send our sincere condolences to [wife] Marie and the children at this sad time; our thoughts are with them.”
After 2005, Jordan’s outfit evolved through multiple different identities to become the current Aston Martin team, with owner Lawrence Stroll another to pay tribute.
“Eddie Jordan was a true racer, a great leader, and one of the biggest characters in our sport,” Stroll said. “He was a friend who I have known for more than 30 years and I will miss him greatly. My thoughts, and those of everybody at Aston Martin, are with his family and friends.”
Current Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell described Jordan as “one of the all-time motorsport greats,” who had established an independent team without the backing of a major manufacturer back in the early 1990s.
“He was a one-off, a wonderful human being, and a charismatic leader who founded this team and took it to F1 in 1991,” Cowell said. “His vision laid the foundations for us and he leaves a lasting legacy for the entire motorsport community. Today we pay tribute to a legend of the sport and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.”
Cowell was one of multiple team bosses to pay tribute, including McLaren’s Zak Brown and Williams team principal James Vowles.
“All at McLaren are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Eddie Jordan,” Brown said. “Eddie was a vibrant figure who always wore his heart on his sleeve. His passion for Formula 1 was enormous and he leaves an incredible legacy. All of our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
“I am deeply saddened to hear of Eddie’s passing,” Vowles added. “He was a larger-than-life character that changed the course of our sport for the better. He was a fantastic independent leader, who worked amongst giants of the sport.
“Rest in peace Eddie, my thoughts are with your family and loved ones.”