How Eddie Jordan, Michael Schumacher’s first boss was banned from visiting him after his tragic skiing accident | Formula One News

Eddie Jordan‘s remarkable contributions to Formula One have been fondly remembered following his passing at the age of 76 after a courageous battle with bladder and prostate cancer. Jordan’s influence on the world of motor racing extended over nearly five decades, during which he served as a driver, team owner, and respected pundit. However, it was his time as the founder and owner of Jordan Grand Prix that cemented his legacy, particularly for his role in launching the career of Michael Schumacher, one of the sport’s greatest icons.

Eddie Jordan’s Legacy as a Mentor and His Bond with Michael Schumacher

In 1991, Eddie Jordan made a bold move by offering a young and relatively unknown Michael Schumacher a chance to drive for Jordan Grand Prix at the Belgian Grand Prix. Schumacher, then 22 years old, replaced Bertrand Gachot, who had been jailed for aggravated assault. Schumacher impressed immediately, qualifying in seventh place on his debut — an extraordinary achievement, given that Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the toughest tracks in Formula One.

Jordan later revealed that Schumacher had not been entirely truthful when asked if he had ever driven at Spa. “Sensational. But first he lied to me,” Jordan recalled. “I had asked him if he had ever been to Spa. I meant, of course, if he had driven there before. He simply said yes. Okay, he wasn’t cheating, but he had never raced there. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have let him drive.” Despite the early retirement due to a clutch failure, Schumacher’s talent was undeniable. Benetton-Ford quickly swooped in to sign him, and Jordan’s attempt to block the move through legal action failed. This would prove to be a turning point, as Schumacher went on to win two world championships with Benetton and later five consecutive titles with Ferrari, solidifying his status as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history.
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Even though Jordan lost Schumacher to Benetton after that fateful debut, the two remained close friends for decades. Jordan fondly recalled Schumacher’s 300th race in 2012, when he symbolically handed him a new clutch. “Michael took me in his arms and said, ‘Eddie, nobody would have thought back then that we would still be here.’ There were tears in my eyes,” Jordan shared.
However, everything changed in 2013 when Schumacher suffered a life-altering skiing accident. He was placed in a medically-induced coma for six months and has remained out of the public eye since September 2014. Jordan expressed his understanding of the family’s decision to maintain strict privacy around Schumacher’s condition. He attempted to visit Schumacher in the early days but was turned away by his wife, Corinna. “I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him,” Jordan explained. “Jean Todt was given the privilege to go see him because of how close they were from their time together at Ferrari which is completely understandable.”
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“I was not able to go see Michael and they said “We love you Eddie and we’ve been involved with you for a very long time, but we do need privacy and safeguard of Michael”.’
Jordan acknowledged the immense strain on Corinna, describing how she had become almost like a “prisoner” due to the constant attention surrounding Schumacher’s condition. “It’s been nearly ten years now, and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that. She’s like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn’t need reminding of it every minute.”
Jordan’s honesty extended to his analysis of Schumacher’s career. He admitted that the “yield clause” in Schumacher’s Ferrari contract, which required his teammate to give way, diminished Schumacher’s legacy in his eyes. “When we’re talking about the greats — Prost, Senna, Mansell, Hamilton, and Verstappen — I think that takes away a lot from his legacy,” Jordan commented.
Jordan’s legacy as a mentor and friend to Schumacher will always be remembered. His eye for talent helped shape the careers of numerous drivers, but it was his unwavering honesty and compassion that truly defined his place in the world of Formula One.