The former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan has died aged 76, his family have announced. The Irishman revealed in December he had been diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer which had spread to his spine and pelvis.
A statement from Jordan’s family read: “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 at the age of 76, after battling with an aggressive form of prostate cancer for the past 12 months.
Eddie Jordan – a life in pictures
“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 tonnes of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow.”
Jordan’s team – which he named after himself – entered 250 races between 1991 and 2005. They won four times, with Damon Hill leading home Jordan’s best-ever result – a one-two finish at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix. Jordan also handed Michael Schumacher his F1 debut at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, with the German going on to win a record-breaking seven world championships – an accomplishment only matched by Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
“Eddie was chaotic and a genius all at the same time,” Hill said in tribute. “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.”
Jordan had revealed at the end of last year that he was embroiled in an “aggressive” cancer battle on his Formula for Success podcast, which he did jointly with former F1 driver, David Coulthard.
And Hill, 64, continued: “I went to see Eddie in Chelsea before he left for South Africa and he knew he had a massive battle on his hands. But he never mentioned it, he wasn’t forlorn, yet it became clear that this would not be something he would overcome. It was as serious as it got. And when he invited us round it was his way of saying goodbye. I was asked to stand in for him on his podcast with David in Australia last week, and you know when you aren’t well enough to present a podcast that it must be serious.”
Speaking from Shanghai before this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, said: “We are 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. 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 One family are with his family and loved ones.”
An overjoyed Eddie Jordan is hoisted aloft by his first Jordan race winner Damon Hill (left) and second-place finisher Ralf Schumacher at Spa in 1998. Photograph: Sutton Images
Jordan sold his F1 team in 2005, and returned to the paddock four years later as part of the BBC’s coverage. He went on to work as a pundit for Channel 4 and briefly as a presenter of Top Gear.
The Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “Very sorry to hear Eddie Jordan has sadly passed. Eddie was a hugely colourful character who I first met in 1991 as a young driver at his then new factory after his first year in Formula One. His advice, ‘get a good sponsor … welcome to the Piranha Club!’ I was fortunate to overlap with him when I came into Formula One. He was in the twilight of his F1 career race wise (indeed he even tried to sell me his team!) but went into other activities where he was always full of energy and fun to work with. Formula One has lost a legend and we will miss his wit and his Irish charm.”
Quick Guide
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
Thank you for your feedback.
Earlier this year, Jordan led a consortium which bought London Irish. He also recently helped seal F1 design guru Adrian Newey’s £20m-a-season deal from Red Bull to Aston Martin. Aston Martin said in a statement: “We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Eddie Jordan. His impact will be felt across the motorsport community for generations to come.”
