‘Devastating’ – Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony reveals ‘beautiful’ final present Eddie Jordan sent him
Anthony Hamilton has paid an emotional tribute to ‘one of the biggest characters of F1’ Eddie Jordan live on talkSPORT this morning. Hamilton, father of seven-time champion and Ferrari star Lewis, shared his instant reaction to the death of the motorsport legend. Jordan broke the news of Hamilton’s move to MercedesGetty Irishman Jordan, the legendary F1 team owner, tragically passed away on Thursday morning following a battle with cancer at the age of 76. Jordan, who ran his own team between 1991 and 2005, handed Michael Schumacher his F1 debut but remained closer to the family of the only other seven-time champion in the sport during recent years. Hamilton Snr joined talkSPORT’s Jim White in the moments after the Dubliner’s death was confirmed in a statement from his family. Among a glowing tribute to the F1 legend, Anthony lifted the lid on a poignant present he received from Jordan over Christmas. He told the White and Jordan show: “I’ve only literally just found out and it’s devastating news. “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.” Anthony Hamilton had an emotional interaction with Jordan over ChristmasGetty Jordan backed Lewis for a knighthood years before it became a realitytalksport Hamilton’s words were also echoed by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, whose absence will leave a profound hole on F1. Horner told talkSPORT: “Formula One has lost an iconic character in Eddie with his ever-vast style and charisma and wit, and obviously in the last few years he’s been working in the media as a commentator and pundit. “He was a big character, had a huge amount of passion, gave so many drivers and engineers and technicians the chance through his Jordan Grand Prix team and he’ll be sadly missed. “Our thoughts go out to his wife Marie and his four children. So very, very sad news and he’ll be sadly missed.” Expanding on Jordan’s renowned charisma and energy, Horner continued: “Absolutely. I mean, all of that in abundance. He got Irish charm, he got wit. “He was never shy to ask the difficult question and he’d get away with it because he was Eddie and we loved him. Jordan was one of the most popular figures in the paddockGetty “He’s always got his finger on the pulse. He broke the news about Lewis going to Mercedes from McLaren and he was always, you know, well-informed. “So, but, you know, [the] overwhelming feeling is one of sadness and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends that, you know, this sad time.” Jordan’s eponymous Grand Prix team entered F1 in 1991 with a fresh-faced Schumacher behind the wheel. Jordan racked up four victories and even had a run at the world title in 1999 with British driver Damon Hill. A regular talkSPORT contributor, the flamboyant team owner and TV pundit also made his mark off the track with his lesser-seen kind side. Jordan helped drivers like Schumacher into the sportGetty Jordan was one of F1’s most colourful figuresGetty Motorsport journalist James Allen told talkSPORT Breakfast: “Eddie and his wife Marie raised millions and millions of pounds for what they call Home Away From Home, which is when families have got children being treated, for example, in London for cancer, but they don’t come from London. Where do the families stay? “Eddie and Marie raised millions and millions of pounds to buy properties around Houston, around Great Ormond Street and things to kind of try and create a natural environment or a normal environment, if you like, for families. “So that’s the sort of side of Eddie Jordan that people don’t know. But obviously the side they do know is a very flamboyant character, you know, born in Dublin, used car dealer, carpet salesman, tried his hand at racing, was pretty good, but realised he wasn’t going to be good enough to make it as an F1 driver himself. Started his own team, unbelievable wheeler dealer, manager of racing drivers, managed to get his team up to Formula One level and actually had a best finish in Formula One in 1999, a third in the World Championship. And I think they won five [four] Grands Prix’s over the years. “Many teams have come into Formula One and never got anywhere close to winning a race, let alone five [four]. “Eddie had an amazing career and was just a wonderful, wonderful, very, very funny character.” Jor
Anthony Hamilton has paid an emotional tribute to ‘one of the biggest characters of F1’ Eddie Jordan live on talkSPORT this morning.
Hamilton, father of seven-time champion and Ferrari star Lewis, shared his instant reaction to the death of the motorsport legend.
Irishman Jordan, the legendary F1 team owner, tragically passed away on Thursday morning following a battle with cancer at the age of 76.
Jordan, who ran his own team between 1991 and 2005, handed Michael Schumacher his F1 debut but remained closer to the family of the only other seven-time champion in the sport during recent years.
Hamilton Snr joined talkSPORT’s Jim White in the moments after the Dubliner’s death was confirmed in a statement from his family.
Among a glowing tribute to the F1 legend, Anthony lifted the lid on a poignant present he received from Jordan over Christmas.
He told the White and Jordan show: “I’ve only literally just found out and it’s devastating news.
“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.”
Hamilton’s words were also echoed by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, whose absence will leave a profound hole on F1.
Horner told talkSPORT: “Formula One has lost an iconic character in Eddie with his ever-vast style and charisma and wit, and obviously in the last few years he’s been working in the media as a commentator and pundit.
“He was a big character, had a huge amount of passion, gave so many drivers and engineers and technicians the chance through his Jordan Grand Prix team and he’ll be sadly missed.
“Our thoughts go out to his wife Marie and his four children. So very, very sad news and he’ll be sadly missed.”
Expanding on Jordan’s renowned charisma and energy, Horner continued: “Absolutely. I mean, all of that in abundance. He got Irish charm, he got wit.
“He was never shy to ask the difficult question and he’d get away with it because he was Eddie and we loved him.
“He’s always got his finger on the pulse. He broke the news about Lewis going to Mercedes from McLaren and he was always, you know, well-informed.
“So, but, you know, [the] overwhelming feeling is one of sadness and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends that, you know, this sad time.”
Jordan’s eponymous Grand Prix team entered F1 in 1991 with a fresh-faced Schumacher behind the wheel.
Jordan racked up four victories and even had a run at the world title in 1999 with British driver Damon Hill.
A regular talkSPORT contributor, the flamboyant team owner and TV pundit also made his mark off the track with his lesser-seen kind side.
Motorsport journalist James Allen told talkSPORT Breakfast: “Eddie and his wife Marie raised millions and millions of pounds for what they call Home Away From Home, which is when families have got children being treated, for example, in London for cancer, but they don’t come from London. Where do the families stay?
“Eddie and Marie raised millions and millions of pounds to buy properties around Houston, around Great Ormond Street and things to kind of try and create a natural environment or a normal environment, if you like, for families.
“So that’s the sort of side of Eddie Jordan that people don’t know. But obviously the side they do know is a very flamboyant character, you know, born in Dublin, used car dealer, carpet salesman, tried his hand at racing, was pretty good, but realised he wasn’t going to be good enough to make it as an F1 driver himself. Started his own team, unbelievable wheeler dealer, manager of racing drivers, managed to get his team up to Formula One level and actually had a best finish in Formula One in 1999, a third in the World Championship. And I think they won five [four] Grands Prix’s over the years.
“Many teams have come into Formula One and never got anywhere close to winning a race, let alone five [four].
“Eddie had an amazing career and was just a wonderful, wonderful, very, very funny character.”
Jordan, who had been battling prostate and bladder cancer for the past 12 months, passed away in Cape Town, South Africa.
A statement from his family said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan OBE, the ex-Formula 1 team owner, TV pundit and entrepreneur.
“He passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20 March 2025.”
