Eddie Jordan, former F1 team principal, manager and driver, dies aged 76 · RaceFans

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Eddie Jordan, the founder of former Formula 1 team Jordan, has passed away a few days before his 77th birthday.

“Eddie passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20th March 2025 at the age of 76, after battling with an aggressive form of prostate cancer for the past 12 months,” said his family in a statement.

Besides running his F1 team, which competed between 1991 and 2005, Jordan was a driver himself earlier in his career, then moved into broadcasting and management. He negotiated on behalf of Adrian Newey last year when the star designer left Red Bull to join Aston Martin.

Jordan’s team won four grands prix in 250 starts before he sold it to Midland Group in 2005. During their first season in F1 he gave future seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher his grand prix debut, but the star rookie was immediately poached by rivals Benetton, to Jordan’s fury.

Jake Humphrey, who worked with Jordan on BBC’s Formula 1 broadcasts in the 2010s, said in a social media post he was “utterly devastated” by the news.

“Formula 1 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,” he said.

“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.

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“His greatest achievements were Mikki, Zoe, Kyle and Zak. His incredible four kids who share his spirit. His wife Marie is one of the strongest, most wonderful women I have ever met.”

Jordan was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer 12 months ago. “It spread into the spine and the pelvis so it was quite aggressive,” he revealed in the Formula For Success podcast he co-hosted with ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard.

After revealing his diagnosis last year, Jordan encouraged listeners not to “put off” checking any possible cancer signs.

“Go and get tested,” he said. “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 time. Go and do it. Don’t be stupid, don’t be shy – it’s not a shy thing – look after your body, guys.”

“Eddie lit up a room whenever he entered it,” Humphrey continued. “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 final interview with him. Sadly that will never happen.

“As I left his final words were ‘I love you brother’.”

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F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the series is “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,” said Domenicali in a statement. “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 team exchanged hands several times in the years after it was sold. Today the Silverstone-based squad competes as Aston Martin.

Its team principal Andy Cowell said: “Eddie Jordan was one of the all-time motorsport greats. He was a one-off, a wonderful human being, and a charismatic leader who founded this team and took it to F1 in 1991.

“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.”

This article will be updated.