Quite a lot of tributes have been paid by senior figures in System 1, following the demise of former staff proprietor and pundit Eddie Jordan.
The founding father of the Jordan Grand Prix staff handed away in Cape City on Thursday on the age of 76, following a battle with an aggressive type of prostate most cancers. Jordan’s eponymous staff entered 250 grands prix and took 4 victories — with a greatest end of third place within the drivers’ and constructors’ championship — earlier than he bought it in 2005 and went on to grow to be a TV pundit and entrepreneur.
“We’re deeply saddened to listen to concerning the sudden lack of Eddie Jordan,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated. “Together with his inexhaustible vitality he at all times knew how one can make individuals smile, remaining real and good always.
“Eddie has been a protagonist of an period of F1 and he shall be deeply missed. On this second of sorrow, my ideas and people of the complete System 1 household are along with his household and family members.”
Certainly one of Jordan’s adversaries within the Nineties and early 2000s was Benetton and Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who helped safe Michael Schumacher’s providers from Jordan in 1991.
“I’m deeply saddened by the lack of Eddie Jordan,” Briatore stated. “Eddie was an excellent particular person, who for many years at all times introduced a smile to the complete F1 paddock. I’ve fond recollections of the time spent on and off the monitor with Eddie and his presence throughout the complete F1 world shall be enormously missed. At this unhappy time, my ideas are along with his family and friends.”
Whereas Jordan raced towards Briatore, his more moderen interactions with the present paddock got here from his punditry position, having labored in British tv from 2009.
After promoting his race staff, Eddie Jordan grew to become a well-liked pundit in F1 TV protection. Mark Sutton/Getty Pictures
“Very sorry to listen to Eddie Jordan has sadly handed,” Purple Bull staff principal Christian Horner posted. “Eddie was a vastly colourful character who I first met in 1991 as a younger driver at his then new manufacturing unit after his first 12 months in System 1. His recommendation, ‘get sponsor… welcome to the Piranha Membership!’
“I used to be lucky to overlap with him once I got here into System 1. He was within the twilight of his F1 profession race clever (certainly he even tried to promote me his staff!) however went into different media actions the place he was at all times stuffed with vitality and enjoyable to work with. System 1 has misplaced a legend and we’ll miss his wit and his Irish allure.
“On behalf of Oracle Purple Bull Racing we ship our honest condolences to [wife] Marie and the kids at this unhappy time; our ideas are with them.”
After 2005, Jordan’s outfit advanced by means of a number of completely different identities to grow to be the present Aston Martin staff, with proprietor Lawrence Stroll one other to pay tribute.
“Eddie Jordan was a real racer, an excellent chief, and one of many greatest characters in our sport,” Stroll stated. “He was a pal who I’ve recognized for greater than 30 years and I’ll miss him enormously. My ideas, and people of all people at Aston Martin, are along with his household and mates.”
Present Aston Martin staff principal Andy Cowell described Jordan as “one of many all-time motorsport greats,” who had established an unbiased staff with out the backing of a significant producer again within the early Nineties.
“He was a one-off, a beautiful human being, and a charismatic chief who based this staff and took it to F1 in 1991,” Cowell stated. “His imaginative and prescient laid the foundations for us and he leaves a long-lasting legacy for the complete motorsport group. At the moment we pay tribute to a legend of the game and our ideas are along with his household, mates, and colleagues.”
Cowell was certainly one of a number of staff bosses to pay tribute, together with McLaren’s Zak Brown and Williams staff principal James Vowles.
“All at McLaren are deeply saddened to listen to concerning the passing of Eddie Jordan,” Brown stated. “Eddie was a vibrant determine who at all times wore his coronary heart on his sleeve. His ardour for System 1 was huge and he leaves an unbelievable legacy. All of our ideas are along with his household and mates.”
“I’m deeply saddened to listen to of Eddie’s passing,” Vowles added. “He was a larger-than-life character that modified the course of our sport for the higher. He was a incredible unbiased chief, who labored amongst giants of the game.
“Relaxation in peace Eddie, my ideas are with your loved ones and family members.”
