F1 icon Eddie Jordan banned by Schumacher family all the way to death

The Schumacher family’s devastating final edict to a Formula 1 icon has emerged after his death rocked the sport on Thursday night.

The Formula 1 world has been left rocked by the death of motorsport icon Eddie Jordan.

The larger-than-life figure died aged 76, it was announced on Thursday night.

The Irishman revealed late last year he was battling an “aggressive” form of prostate and bladder cancer, which spread to his spine and pelvis.

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Jordan’s family first announced the news through a public statement where it was announced he died peacefully with his family by his side in Cape Town, South Africa.

Tributes flooded in for the F1 icon from across the world on Friday morning, but there was one tribute missing from the initial flood of messages.

Jordan famously gave F1 legend Michael Schumacher his first drive in Formula 1 in 1991.

The pair shared a close friendship throughout Schumacher’s career when the seven-time world champion retired for a second time in 2012.

Eddie managed the Jordan F1 team from 1991 to 2005 — and spoke about his love for Schumacher in recent interviews.

F1 great Eddie Jordan has died. Photos: Getty Images

One of the great tragedies of Jordan’s death is that he never got to see his friend again after the German driver’s tragic ski incident in December, 2013.

The former Ferrari driver suffered a traumatic injury to his brain in the accident, but his health has been a closely-kept family secret ever since.

Jordan in 2022, went public with his sadness at never being able to see Schumacher in person.

Jordan revealed Michael’s wife Corinna denied him a visit. He stressed at the time he understood the family’s decision.

Corinna prefers to treat her husband privately at their home in Geneva, Switzerland with ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt one of the few people allowed to see him outside his immediate family.

Jordan said he contacted Corinna, who was once the girlfriend of his team’s driver Heinz Harold Frentzen, before she went on to marry Schumacher.

He told the Irish Daily Mirror: “I reached out and at one stage asked was it appropriate and did I think we should go and visit him.

“The answer was no. No visitations for anyone at that moment except the actual direct family.

“However, since then, young Mick Schumacher — Michael’s son — has reached out to me, and he has been extraordinary.”

He went on to say: “I was not able to go see Michael and they said ‘We love you Eddie and we’ve been involved with you for a very long time, but we do need privacy and safeguard of Michael’.”

Jordan in 2023 said he sympathises with Corinna, despite her decision to keep him outside the inner circle.

Speaking with betting firm OLGB, as first reported by The Sun, Jordan said: “This was the most horrific situation for Mick and Corinna.

Corinna Schumacher (left), Michael Schumacher (centre) and Eddie Jordan (right).

“It’s been nearly ten years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that, she’s like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn’t need reminding of it every minute.

“She has set out some rules, I know her very well and a long time before Michael Schumacher.

“She’s a lovely girl and I knew her when she married Michael so there is a long history of good relations.”

Jordan continued: “I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him”.

Schumacher’s brother Ralf was one of the first people to make public statements about Jordan on Thursday night.

Jordan gave Ralf his big break in Formula 1, while the team owner also successful identified and recruited some of the biggest names in the sport, including, world champion Damon Hill, Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barichello, Jean Alesi, Martin Brundle and Frentzen.

Jordan had a colourful career in F1. Photos: AFP/AP

Ralf said on Thursday: “We had a fantastic time in Cape Town. Your love of music and the many live performances are unforgettable.

“I can hardly believe you lost your battle with the disease. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to start my F1 career with your team. I will always be grateful for that.

“I wish the whole family strength during these hours. I already miss you, my dear friend. Rest in peace.”

Sky Sports F1 pundit Brundle also posted on X: “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.”

Jake Humphrey, who presented BBC coverage with Jordan and David Coulthard, posted on X: “Utterly devastated. EJ has left us.

“Formula One won’t see the likes of Eddie ever again where a guy with a love for racing can hustle his way into the sport and end up winning races.

“More important than race wins though, he won hearts. I will never forget how his face would.”

Stefano Domenicali, chief executive of Formula One Group, said: “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 1 family are with his family and loved ones.”

He made his last appearance on live radio last month when he touchingly apologised after revealing he’s “not himself” following a dose of cancer treatment.

Damon Hill (R) and Ralf Schumacher (centre) spill champagne on their team director Eddie Jordan (L). Photo by ERIC CABANIS / AFP

Jordan was a legend in his field and although he never drove in F1, he did race in F2, F3 and Formula Atlantic, as well as 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1981.

His Jordan Grand Prix team raced in F1 until 2005 and achieved its best ever result in 1998 when Hill and Ralf Schumacher finished first and second at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The team was sold in 2005 and rebranded as MF1 Racing a year later before becoming Force India and later Racing Point and now Aston Martin.

Jordan returned to F1 in 2009 as a pundit for BBC Sport’s Grand Prix and later joined Channel 4 in 2016.

He had also been a regular pundit on Sky Sports over the years.

He was awarded an honorary OBE by Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of his services to charity and motor racing in 2012.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as F1 icon Eddie Jordan banned by Schumacher family all the way to death