Eddie Jordan

(and a splash of the Chinese GP)

Eddie Jordan. EJ. The rockstar, the F1 hell-raiser, the spoon player, the charity supporter, husband, father, grandfather and the most loyal of friends. The list goes on and on.

For 20 years, Eddie has been a brilliant friend to me. Despite being closer in age to his children, EJ and I got on like we were the same generation. That was because he defied his age and no doubt had more energy than people considerably younger than him - certainly more than me! He loved randomly challenging drivers and athletes to a push-up contest. I’ve been in paddocks, garages, team hospitalities, even on yachts were EJ has thrown down the gauntlet to some unsuspecting world champion or famously fit person. Of course, he would normally win. He would often cycle on the roads above Monaco, some of the toughest stages on the Tour de France. Mark Webber often talks of how amazed he was by Eddie’s fitness and resilience.

I always knew EJ but it was 2009 when I started working and travelling the world with him. I remember two years later he wrote in a magazine that his two best friends in the F1 paddock were Peter Sauber, a very quiet Swiss man who owned the Sauber F1 team, and me! I thought it was very strange at the time because both these people were at least 30 years older than me and I didn’t think it particularly added to my street cred! But I was flattered and extremely proud to be his friend. Everyone found the article very amusing but I think they were just jealous not to make the club. I can only imagine that Peter and I were both in his eye line when he was being interviewed and that’s how we made the cut! The thing with Eddie was that he had so many friends and so many people loved him. It didn’t matter if you met him for 30 minutes or 30 years, the Irishman would’ve left an impression.

From humble beginnings selling fish out a van, to becoming a clerk for the Bank of Ireland and then going on to be one of the most familiar faces and voices in F1, he was epitome of a life well lived. Eddie decided to set up his own racing team after a short driving career. He mastered F3 and F3000 before arriving in Formula One. At that time the sport was like a castle with the drawbridge pulled up. EJ and Jordan F1 stormed it! He gave Michael Schumacher his first ever drive in F1. He won four Grand Prix, disrupting the world order. He started the careers of many drivers, engineers and team bosses. He loved giving people a chance.

Viewers might have thought he wasn’t always serious on camera. Sometimes he wasn’t but he had no problem in saying what everyone else was afraid to. You would see him running around in the paddock having sniffed out a deal. He has done deals for some drivers still on the grid now. They flocked to him for advice and his no nonsense approach. He broke the story of Schumacher returning to the sport with Mercedes. He caused McLaren a huge amount of stress when he told the world that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving them and joining Mercedes replacing Schumacher. McLaren had no idea and the news sent them into a rage, accusing Eddie of lying and scoop-mongering. Thinking back, there was a time when F1 was on the BBC that we were never out of trouble because of EJ. One week McLaren hated us the following week it was Ferrari. Somehow we would make it to the end of the season and everyone liked us again. Every team loved seeing the chaos and discomfort in calling out the truth that EJ caused. They just didn’t appreciate it when it was them!

Last year whilst dealing with his cancer, EJ put together the Adrian Newey move to Aston Martin ($30 million per year plus shares). In the last few months it was announced that he would rescue London Irish Rugby club who went into administration, as so many rugby clubs did a couple of years ago. What a brilliant legacy that would be.

He might’ve had homes all over the world, but he was never happier when he was talking about Ireland. He was so proud to be Irish and loved talking about everything from horses to rugby to music to his beloved Mammy.

He would rub shoulders with young drivers, A-listers and royalty with the same ease and never changing. He was in the inner circle of Bernie Ecclestone, who trusted very few people in what was known as the Piranha Club. Speaking of A-listers, our beautiful tribute to Eddie on Channel 4 F1 was voiced by Bono. It was perfect. You could feel the love. I will put it below.

I have endless personal stories, from trips to Barbados, to going horse racing at Cheltenham and Windsor. There were chaotic moments on television and even more brilliant moments off camera. Most mornings before we went on air, he would bring out a selection of shirts and ask me to choose which one to wear that day. They were colourful and bright with crazy patterns - a perfect reflection of him.

He would do anything you asked on or off camera. He was brilliantly trusting and you would repay the trust ten times over. I have never met anyone like EJ and I know I never will again.

One thing he would say would be “Shut the f$£$ up. There’s been an F1 race.” He would be disappointed with me not swearing properly and using $£$ - unless it was for a deal.

So yes there has been an F1 race but I will keep it brief if you don’t mind.

It was brilliant to see Lewis Hamilton getting a Sprint Pole and Sprint Race win on just his second weekend for Ferrari. He is always brilliant in Shanghai and has more wins and poles than any other driver here. Sadly for him, that didn’t translate to the Sunday however and over the longer race it was more McLaren domination. This time it was Oscar Piastri who took the glory after a stunning pole on Saturday. Lando Norris was 2nd giving McLaren their 50th 1-2 in Formula One. As I said in an earlier article, who ever gets a good start to the season will get the backing of the team for the championship. For the moment it is too early and in terms of GP wins, it is 1-1. It makes for a cracking and potentially chaotic season.

Eddie would be in his element!