Over the succeeding years, Anderson rejoined, drivers came and went, there were fights over engine supply, and the money began to dry up. But there was one more win – for Fisichella in the chaotically wet Brazilian Grand Prix of 2003.
McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen was declared the winner after a massive crash brought the race to a halt, but the officials had missed that Fischella had actually been leading at the crucial point – and the trophy was handed over at a ceremony at the following race in Imola.
Financial troubles worsened in 2004 and late in the year Ecclestone introduced Jordan to the Canadian businessman Alex Shnaider. Six weeks later, in January 2005, the team was sold for $60m.
The deal made Jordan secure for life, but on the day he signed it he was in tears in the office of commercial director Ian Phillips, who had been with the team from the start.
Four years later, Jordan was back on the scene as an outspoken television pundit for BBC Sport, after the corporation won back the rights to F1, and he developed a reputation for being involved in breaking big stories.
These included Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010, and that Lewis Hamilton was bound for the same team for 2013.
In truth, the Hamilton story was more collaborative than was admitted, to protect sources, and Jordan’s involvement was not as singular as was presented at the time.
He stayed on board as coverage switched to Channel 4 from 2016, albeit appearing with decreasing regularity. But, deal-maker as ever, Jordan was always working behind the scenes, and in 2024 he pulled his last master deal.
Now acting as the manager of his friend Adrian Newey, Jordan negotiated an exit from Red Bull for F1’s greatest ever designer, and a five-year deal with Aston Martin for a salary that could reach £30m with add-ons and bonuses.
The irony was unmissable – Aston Martin is the latest iteration of the team Jordan had founded. It had passed through various name changes and owners to end up with the Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who has built a new factory on the site Jordan had used since 1991.
Not long after the Newey deal was sealed, Jordan revealed in December 2024 that he was being treated for aggressive prostate cancer, though that did not stop him heading a consortium which bought London Irish rugby club in early 2025.
He is survived by his wife Marie, and their four children, Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c4gp474y92vo
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Publish date : 2025-03-20 09:30:06
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