Eddie Jordan, the former Formula One team owner and current co-owner of London Irish rugby club, has died at the age of 76.
Jordan revealed in December that he had been undergoing treatment for “aggressive” bladder and prostate cancer but said that he had “pulled out of it, thankfully”, urging men to get their prostates checked.
The cancer is understood to have returned aggressively. Jordan died in South Africa, where he lived for part of the year.
The Jordan family said: “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.”
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said in a statement: “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.”
RIP my friend. Condolences to each and every one of your lovely family. What a character. What a rock star. What a racer. So many drivers owe you so much, you gave us our chances and believed in us. ???? pic.twitter.com/7yexhsxC0h
— Martin Brundle OBE (@MBrundleF1) March 20, 2025
Jordan founded his eponymous team in 1991, becoming a huge paddock figure during that decade. Jordan Grand Prix achieved their best-ever result when drivers Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher finished first and second at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1998.
They finished third in the championship the following year when Heinz-Harald Frentzen also challenged for the drivers’ title, winning two races en route to a third-place finish. Frentzen had to retire from the lead of the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring that year. Had he won he would have been within a point of the championship lead with two rounds remaining.
Jordan faded as a force in the 2000s, losing a Honda engine partnership deal to the BAR team in 2002, which combined with the loss of sponsors DHL and Benson and Hedges put the team in a difficult position. He was bought out by Midland in 2005.
Jordan, who was born in Dublin in 1948, continued to be a big figure in the sport, as a pundit on television and radio, and latterly as a podcaster on his Formula For Success podcast which he co-hosted with ex-driver David Coulthard.
A larger-than-life character, he owned homes in Cape Town, South Kensington, London and Monaco, where he kept his yacht. Even last year he was instrumental in Adrian Newey’s move from Red Bull to Aston Martin, acting as Newey’s agent.
Last month Jordan led a consortium to buy London Irish more than a year after the Premiership club was suspended from all rugby for being unable to pay its players.
The statement from Jordan’s family read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan OBE. 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.
“He was working until the last, having communicated on St Patrick’s Day, about his ambitions for London Irish Rugby Football Club, of which he had recently become patron.
“Born on 30 March, 1948 in Dublin, Ireland, Eddie rose to prominence through racing in the lower echelons of single seater motorsport, then moving into driver management, and following that founding the infamous, privately owned Formula One team, Jordan Grand Prix.
“Eddie and Jordan Grand Prix were known for their rock and roll image, bringing a fun and exciting element to F1, as well as consistently performing above their weight. Many successful F1 drivers owe their career breaks to Eddie, and world champions including Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill drove for him.
“Following the sale of the team in 2005, Eddie successfully moved into TV punditry and commentary for the F1 TV producers as well as continuing to be a prolific entrepreneur having made many successful investments in a variety of sectors.
“Eddie leaves his wife Marie and his children: Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle. He has many devoted fans and will be sorely missed in the world of motorsport and beyond.
“The family said: ‘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.’”
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