Quite a few tributes have been paid by senior figures in System 1, following the demise of former crew proprietor and pundit Eddie Jordan.
The founding father of the Jordan Grand Prix crew 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 crew entered 250 grands prix and took 4 victories — with a greatest end of third place within the drivers’ and constructors’ championship — earlier than he offered it in 2005 and went on to develop into a TV pundit and entrepreneur.
“We’re deeply saddened to listen to in regards to the sudden lack of Eddie Jordan,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali mentioned. “Together with his inexhaustible power he all the time knew methods to make folks smile, remaining real and good always.
“Eddie has been a protagonist of an period of F1 and he can be deeply missed. On this second of sorrow, my ideas and people of your complete System 1 household are along with his household and family members.”
Considered 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 mentioned. “Eddie was a fantastic particular person, who for many years all the time introduced a smile to your complete F1 paddock. I’ve fond recollections of the time spent on and off the monitor with Eddie and his presence throughout your complete F1 world can be tremendously missed. At this unhappy time, my ideas are along with his family and friends.”
Whereas Jordan raced in opposition to Briatore, his newer interactions with the present paddock got here from his punditry position, having labored in British tv from 2009.
After promoting his race crew, Eddie Jordan grew to become a preferred pundit in F1 TV protection. Mark Sutton/Getty Pictures
“Very sorry to listen to Eddie Jordan has sadly handed,” Pink Bull crew principal Christian Horner posted. “Eddie was a massively colourful character who I first met in 1991 as a younger driver at his then new manufacturing facility after his first yr in System 1. His recommendation, ‘get a great 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 smart (certainly he even tried to promote me his crew!) however went into different media actions the place he was all the time filled with power and enjoyable to work with. System 1 has misplaced a legend and we’ll miss his wit and his Irish attraction.
“On behalf of Oracle Pink Bull Racing we ship our honest condolences to [wife] Marie and the youngsters at this unhappy time; our ideas are with them.”
After 2005, Jordan’s outfit developed by a number of completely different identities to develop into the present Aston Martin crew, with proprietor Lawrence Stroll one other to pay tribute.
“Eddie Jordan was a real racer, a fantastic chief, and one of many greatest characters in our sport,” Stroll mentioned. “He was a pal who I’ve recognized for greater than 30 years and I’ll miss him tremendously. My ideas, and people of all people at Aston Martin, are along with his household and associates.”
Present Aston Martin crew principal Andy Cowell described Jordan as “one of many all-time motorsport greats,” who had established an impartial crew with out the backing of a serious producer again within the early Nineties.
“He was a one-off, a beautiful human being, and a charismatic chief who based this crew and took it to F1 in 1991,” Cowell mentioned. “His imaginative and prescient laid the foundations for us and he leaves a long-lasting legacy for your complete motorsport neighborhood. At present we pay tribute to a legend of the game and our ideas are along with his household, associates, and colleagues.”
Cowell was one among a number of crew bosses to pay tribute, together with McLaren’s Zak Brown and Williams crew principal James Vowles.
“All at McLaren are deeply saddened to listen to in regards to the passing of Eddie Jordan,” Brown mentioned. “Eddie was a vibrant determine who all the time wore his coronary heart on his sleeve. His ardour for System 1 was monumental and he leaves an unbelievable legacy. All of our ideas are along with his household and associates.”
“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 implausible impartial chief, who labored amongst giants of the game.
“Relaxation in peace Eddie, my ideas are with your loved ones and family members.”
