F1 legend Eddie Jordan dies after battle with cancer

The Formula 1 great and legendary character announced late last year he was battling “aggressive” prostate and bladder cancer.

Formula One legend Eddie Jordan has died aged 76.

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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A family statement said: “Eddie passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20th March 2025 at the age of 76, after battling with an aggressive form of prostate cancer for the past 12 months.”

Tributes flooded in for the F1 icon from across the world, as The Sun reports.

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

F1 great Eddie Jordan has died. Photos: Getty Images

“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.

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

The former F1 team owner was on talkSPORT discussing his takeover of London Irish.

Towards the end of the segment, Jordan said: “Sorry guys, just a small thing, thank you.

“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.”

Back in December, Jordan revealed he went through some “dark days” as the cancer spread to different parts of his body.

He urged people to go out and get tested and spoke about the importance of looking after one’s body.

In an appearance on his Formula For Success podcast, which he hosts alongside Coulthard, Jordan said: “We’ve kind of alluded to it David, over the shows.

“Way back in March and April, I was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer.

“And then it spread into the spine and the pelvis, so it was quite aggressive.

Jordan with Mark Webber and at a Grand Prix ball. Photos: News Limited

“And we’ve all heard about our wonderful friend Sir Chris Hoy, who is an absolute megastar, and he (was) coming out and talking about illness such as like what I’ve got, but he’s a far younger man.

“But this is a little message for all the anchors and everybody listening to this: don’t wait or put it off.

“Go and get tested, because in life you’ve got chances and there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime.

“Go and do it. Don’t be stupid, don’t be shy. It’s not a shy thing – look after your body, guys.

“We’ll move on, but yes, some very dark days in there – but we pulled out of it, thankfully.”

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.

Ten years later he did finally make it to F1 with his Jordan Grand Prix team and gave Michael Schumacher his F1 debut in 1991.

Jordan gave all-time F1 great Michael Schumacher his debut. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)

Jordan Grand Prix raced in F1 until 2005 and achieved its best ever result in 1998 when Damon 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 legend Eddie Jordan dies after battle with cancer