Iconic F1 team owner Eddie Jordan passes away aged 76

Legendary former Formula One team owner and TV pundit Eddie Jordan has died at the age of 76, his family have announced.

The Dubliner founded Jordan Grand Prix, a team that raced from 1991 to 2005 and secured four F1 victories in that time.

A statement from his family said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan OBE, 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.”

In late 2024, Jordan revealed he had been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of cancer.

Jordan detailed his health issues on his Formula For Success podcast, which he co-hosted with David Coulthard.

He said: “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. And we’ve all heard about our wonderful friend Sir Chris Hoy, who is an absolute megastar, and he [was] coming out and talking about illness such as like what I’ve got, but he’s a far younger man.

“But this is a little message for all the anchors and everybody listening to this: don’t wait 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.”

Despite his diagnosis, last month Jordan led a consortium in the purchase of English rugby club London Irish.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the sudden loss of Eddie Jordan,” said F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

“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.”

Jordan’s first major taste of the racing world came when he entered and won the 1971 Irish Karting Championship.

Over the following years Jordan debuted in Formula Ford, the Irish Formula Championship and, in 1975, Formula Three before a serious accident at Mallory Park in 1976 stunted his progress.

He returned to racing the following year and in 1978, he won the Irish Formula Atlantic Championship and following a Formula Two race and testing for McLaren, he founded his first team, Eddie Jordan Racing, in 1979 before moving into the world of Formula 1 with Jordan Grand Prix, which was established in 1991.

Highlights include giving a debut to Michael Schumacher at the Belgian Grand Prix while giving driver Eddie Irvine real profile, while from 1996, they adopted a distinctive bright yellow colour that became their trademark in the pit lane.

At the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, Jordan completed a one-two with Damon Hill winning and Ralf Schumacher finishing second. Third was Jean Alesi, who had previously won a F3000 Drivers’ Championship for Eddie Jordan Racing.

The Jordan Grand Prix team enjoyed its best season in 1999 when it finished third in the Constructors’ Championship with Hill and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, the latter also finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship.

Hill said: “Eddie was chaotic and a genius all at the same time. He had the energy of 100 men. He created so much joy and had a massive heart. There will only ever be one EJ.

“He left his mark on the sport. He came from nothing, he worked his way up by using his cunning and guile. And by his own admission, it wasn’t because of his good looks but because he was undeniable.

“He had a way of getting himself into your life. He was extraordinary and brilliant. He had a lovely family and he enriched life all around him. My heart goes out to them. The sport has lost a true legend and we have lost a true friend.”

After selling Jordan Grand Prix in 2005, Eddie entered the world of media and was a familiar face on BBC’s F1 coverage in the years that followed. He would also be a presenter on BBC car show Top Gear from 2016 to 2018 before entering the podcast world in recent times.

May he rest in peace.