Eddie Jordan death: Former F1 team owner dies aged 76

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has passed away at the age of 76 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Jordan revealed in December that he had experienced some “very dark days” after being diagnosed with “aggressive” bladder and prostate cancer last spring, which spread to his spine and pelvis.

The former F1 team owner and pundit, who ran the Jordan Grand Prix team from 1991 to 2005 and was a pundit on BBC’s coverage of Formula 1, spent the winter in Cape Town and insisted last month that his chemotherapy was in “good shape.”

But a statement from his family announced the Irishman had passed away earlier on Thursday. The statement 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."

Last month, speaking on talkSPORT about leading a consortium which had bought London Irish rugby club out of administration, Jordan became emotional as the conversation moved on to his round of chemotherapy.

"Sorry guys, just a small thing, thank you,” Jordan said. "I've just come out of getting chemotherapy and I'm not 100 per cent together here guys.

"I'm just not myself at this moment in time. I'm a little all over the place, so please forgive me."

Presenter Alan Brazil told Jordan “not to worry”, adding: “I wasn’t going to bring it up. But listen, if we can get this out to people, it’s encouraging. Well done you.”

Jordan replied: “I just had a big deal of it yesterday so I’m sorry – I’m not quite myself.”

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A larger-than-life character in the F1 paddock, Jordan founded his own racing team in 1981, and hired Martin Brundle in British F3 in 1983.

He then founded his own F1 team, Jordan Grand Prix, in 1991 and gave seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher his debut later that year. After one race, Schumacher moved to rivals Benetton, where he would go on to win his first two titles.

Jordan’s best result in F1 came in 1998 with a one-two finish with Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher at the Belgian Grand Prix, while a year later Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished third in the world championship – Jordan’s best individual driver finish.

Yet after losing an engine deal with Honda in 2002, the team struggled financially and Midland Group bought the team in 2005. Overall, Jordan GP entered 250 races in F1, winning four grands prix.

More to follow…