Exclusive: Bernie Ecclestone pays tribute to 'fighter and true racer' Eddie Jordan

Bernie Ecclestone has paid tribute to "fighter" and "true racer" Eddie Jordan following the news of his death, aged 76.

Jordan passed away in Cape Town in the early hours of March 20th following a battle against aggressive prostate and bladder cancer. 

The Irishman was a presence in the F1 paddock for nearly 35 years, following his eponymous team first joining the grid in 1991 - giving Michael Schumacher his debut - before selling in 2005. 

He then transitioned into a successful broadcasting career for the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK before launching his own podcast with David Coulthard in 2023.

Paying tribute to Jordan, Ecclestone highlighted his "fighter" instinct and labelled him as a "true racer."

"He was a very special person, and today, in Formula 1, I don't know anyone who I can say is like Eddie," Ecclestone exclusively told RacingNews365 from his home in Switzerland.

"He was full of games and jokes and just a very pleasant person.

"I never heard him genuinely complain about things. He would complain, but, as it was always with him, he wasn't too serious. It would always be a bit of a joke.

"Eddie was a very special person, the thing about Eddie, of course, he was a true racer. 

"There's nobody around today in Formula 1 quite like him.

"He's the sort of guy that could really get himself into all sorts of trouble and yet find his way out of it. He was special.”

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The Schumacher deal

Jordan was known for his willingness to speak his mind and retained his colourful character after he stepped away from F1 team management and into punditry.

He also had a reputation throughout his time in F1 as a man with an eye for a deal, with former F1 supremo Ecclestone recalling the negotiations with Benetton boss Flavio Briatore that pinched Schumacher from Jordan's grasp after just a single race at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.

"He always used to find a sponsor to look after things so he could keep dealing,” Ecclestone stated. “He was a fighter. He would always come up with something to solve a problem."

"I mean, we had a battle one night when we stole his driver and put him in the Benetton - Mr. Schumacher, of course.

"He [Briatore] had to get rid of the guy he already had [Roberto Moreno] and replace him, so we were up all night trying to sort out how we could find a good place, a good home.

"I was talking to both of them [Jordan and Briatore] about this. He didn't want to lose him. But if he could see there were a few dollars there somewhere, maybe it wouldn't be as bad as it seemed.

"He understood what I was trying to do. I said to him it was the best for the driver. 

“I said to him that if he stays with you, he's got nowhere to go, and at least where he was going, it would be a good thing. He understood but he still wasn't happy about it."