FORMULA One legend Eddie Jordan will be remembered at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend with Aston Martin, previously the Jordan team, carrying his name and an Irish shamrock on their cars.
A minute silence is also expected to take place at the event in Shanghai as F1 pays tribute to the charismatic Dubliner, who died from cancer on Thursday at the age of 76.
Aston Martin earlier shared pictures of Jordan’s name on their cars, tweeting: “Paying tribute to Eddie Jordan.
“From 1991 to 2025. The Jordan Grand Prix legacy lives on.”
They earlier shared a video of the inscription work taking place, saying: “Honouring a true legend of our sport and team.
“Eddie Jordan’s name will proudly feature on our car this weekend as we pay tribute to his incredible legacy in motorsport.”
Ironically, the Chinese Grand Prix 20 years ago in 2005 was Jordan’s last ever race as a team owner after selling his business to the Midland Group for £60million.
After a number of changes of ownership in the past two decades, the Jordan Grand Prix team which Eddie founded in 1991 now flies under the Aston Martin flag today.
Drivers, pit crews, officials and the thousands attending this week’s event at the Shanghai International Circuit are expected to pause for 60 seconds to remember the flamboyant Irishman, who gave Michael Schumacher his break in Formula One.
Lewis Hamilton will be in pole position for the Grand Prix sprint race tomorrow and his father Anthony revealed how he had become good friends with the Dubliner over the years.
He said: “The last time I heard from Eddie was at Christmas time. He sent me a beautiful photo of him with his family. And I heard last week that he wasn’t so well.
“It’s devastating news and very sad to hear. Condolences to his family and his friends.
“He was one of the biggest characters of F1 and he’ll be sadly and sorely missed, I’m sure. He was a friend.
“He was a good friend, Eddie. He liked his sailing, as we all know. When he used to visit the Caribbean, I used to put him in touch with my friends and family friends out there. I used to look after him.
“So yeah, he’ll be hugely missed.”
Funeral details for the star have not yet been announced but one man who has insisted he won’t be there is former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.
The 94-year-old said: “I am very, very sad because Eddie was a special guy. Tell me which team principal today is like him. You can’t give me one because there isn’t one. They don’t make them like that now.
“We will never replace him in Formula One.
“With Eddie, you always knew where you stood. We could joke and laugh at each other. We very were close in a strange way. We trusted each other.”
Even when Benetton “stole” Schumacher from Jordan for the 1992 season, Ecclestone said trust remained in their relationship.
‘TRUSTED HIM TOTALLY’
He recalled: “We stole Schumacher from him, telling him Michael would be going to Benetton in 1992, and we discussed this through a whole night session.
“You learn a lot about people in circumstances like those. He was fighting to keep his driver but was happy if he got a few dollars in exchange for Michael going. Eddie was always looking for a few dollars in a completely nice way.
“I would have given him an open cheque because I trusted him totally.
“But I won’t be going to his funeral. I don’t go to funerals. I may not go to mine. He certainly won’t go to mine. So, it’s all fair. It always was with Eddie.”
