Tributes have begun to flood in following the tragic news of Eddie Jordan’s passing after a battle with cancer.
The 76-year-old was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer last year and provided a heartbreaking update about the condition just last month,
‘Sorry guys, just a small thing, thank you,’ he said on talkSPORT. ‘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.’
As a hugely influential figure in the Formula One world, there were countless tributes on social media as the desperately sad news broke.
Retweeting a video of Jordan and a number of F1 figures in a comedy skit with Al Murray, Jake Humphrey wrote: ‘On a devastatingly sad and difficult day – this has put a big smile on my face’.
Jake Humphrey (left) has paid tribute to Eddie Jordan (right) after his tragic passing
Jordan ran his own Formula One team from 1991 to 2005 before becoming a BBC pundit
Humphrey once described Jordan as ‘the most inspiring friend I have’ on social media
Humphrey then returned to social media to share a longer, touching testimony of the man he shared the screens with covering Formula One.
‘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,’ he wrote.
‘More important than race wins though, he won hearts. I will never forget how his face would always light up whenever he saw a Jordan GP jacket, flag or cap… as we traveled the world together years after the team had been sold.
‘His greatest achievements were Mikki, Zoe, Kyle and Zak. His incredible 4 kids who share his spirit. His wife Marie is one of the strongest, most wonderful women I have ever met.
‘The 4 years we spent together hosting F1 on the BBC were greatest of my career. Wing-walking, scooter riding, car driving madness that I know he loved deeply.
‘His incredible spirit and love of life lives on in me, and my children who were lucky enough to meet him and hear all about him.
‘Eddie lit up a room whenever he entered it. That is a lesson for us all – be the light in the room.
‘I was lucky enough to share one final, cherished meal with him and his boys a few months ago. It was special. We talked about me doing one final interview with him. Sadly that will never happen.
Jordan’s team was named after the Irishman and entered 250 races, winning four in total
Humphrey posted a touching tribute including pictures of the Three Amigos – Jordan (left), David Coulthard (centre) and Humphrey (right)
‘As I left his final words were “I love you brother”. One of the 3 Amigos is gone. The world seems a little less bright this morning.
‘Farewell friend. Play the spoons up there for me,’ with three love hearts.
In his beautifully worded tribute to his old friend, Humphrey also included a heart-warming video of Jordan playing the spoons with a band in a restaurant.
Jordan ran his own team in Formula One between 1991 and 2005 before continuing to be involved in the sport as a broadcaster for the BBC and Channel 4.
Having withdrawn from the public eye, his last significant involvement in F1 was thought to have been helping facilitate the deal for Adrian Newey to join Aston Martin as the design guru’s manager.
Jordan and Humphrey were very close, and the latter has spoken in the past about the lessons and influence he has taken from his former presenting partner.
Back in 2020 Humphrey posted a video on X of Jordan busking in Covent Garden, playing percussion in a rendition of the Eagles’ hit Hotel California, stating: ‘I bloody love Eddie Jordan.
‘His passion for life is infectious. He is totally himself. One of the most inspiring friends I have.’
Formula One legend Eddie Jordan has passed away aged 76 after losing his battle with cancer
Jordan, pictured with wife Marie, was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer last year
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher also shared footage of Jordan playing the spoons in a separate tribute on Instagram.
He previously featured in a band called Eddie & The Robbers playing the drums, underlining his clear love for music.
Jordan’s team was named after the Irishman and entered 250 races, winning four times.
Jordan is renowned for giving Michael Schumacher his F1 debut in 1991, while Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, ended his career with his team.
Jordan is known for his punchy commentary and, back in December, urged Ferrari to rip up Lewis Hamilton’s contract after he lamented his form.