Boss Man

interviewF1 legend Eddie Jordan talks Formula E, luxury watches and why he no longer has a need for speed.

Edmund Patrick Jordan OBE - better known as Eddie Jordan - is still an icon of the sport of Formula One. The charismatic Irishman launched a number of competitive F1 teams that could always be considered the plucky underdog. The ones that every neutral racing fan would root for.

Jordan teams were also the launchpad to for super-stardom for the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and many more.

Eddie eventually transcended his position of team boss long before he sold his last Jordan team in 2005. We now find him a regular fixture on our TV screens - either giving young drivers a very public dressing down or hosting his own show.

The man himself was at the recent 2019 Dubai International Motor Show and we got to ask him some questions about the past, present and future of F1 plus a whole lot more.

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How do you feel F1 has changed since you first got into it?

Well it’s a matter of opinion. In some respects I don’t think it’s quite as exciting but having said that, there are some races that have been fantastic in 2019. But I think the package has slightly changed and it was inevitable that it would. In my day there were team owners, but not team bosses or working for people. Like there was Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Enzo Ferrari and all the guys who owned the team and were taking the risk. It was a different ambiance, a different balance, a different set of circumstances. Not better, not worse, just different. From that point of view – life moves on. Is the car industry the same as it was thirty years ago? Of course not. Life moves on and moves on quickly.

How do you think the young stars of today would have fared back when you started?

Oh, I think they would’ve done great. I don’t think it’s the young stars, if you look at the quality of the people – whether it’s Hamilton, or Max Verstappen, or Leclerc, and then you’ve got Albon, Carlos Sainz – you’ve got a whole heap of young drivers coming through. And that’s just to mention a few. There are lots of really good drivers. When we think back on the older days, it was Mansell, De Angelis, and it was a lot more dangerous then and drivers didn’t stay around as long as they do at the moment. So it’s different on that end. I think the quality is very strong. A lot of depth. Just like the older days – I don’t see any difference in that.

Formula E’s currently experiencing a sharp rise in popularity – what do you think of the sport and do you think it will rival Formula One in the future?

I’m not sure that is absolutely accurate. I think Formula E is improving and I understand that they are working really hard to find a way to putting realistic noise levels into it. For sure, I think that will make a positive difference and let’s see what happens. At the moment Formula E could be a great introduction for what the future of Formula One is going to hold, because right now Formula One has declared a big rule change for 2021 and 2030 and its going to be completely electric, or certainly green, and it will have no carbon footprint. It will be very positive for the sport for people to understand that motor racing holds respect for the planet.

Eddie Jordan wearing a purple suit and stepping into a Corvette at the 2019 Dubai International Motorshow.

Watches are obviously synonymous with motor racing – what’s your favourite timepiece and why?

I’m a watch fanatic. And by that I mean I like lots of different watches. Some people are attracted to the steel Rolex Daytona or Patek Philippe. One of my favourite pieces at the moment, is an old style Omega, it doesn’t have a very big face. But then again, I like the big faces too. The Panerai, Jaeger LeCoultre Duo Reverso, the IWC… there’s a lot. At the moment I’m a fan of a lot and I’m happy to wear all of them. I’m wearing a Vacheron right now, not usual as not many people wear them. I try and change my watch every two weeks!

How do you quench your need for speed these days?

Very easy. It’s not of any interest to me any more. I think speed is hugely arousing in terms of the adrenaline and excitement it gives you. But it needs to be channelled in a positive way. What I get really upset about is people going too fast and making a lot of noise on the street because then you’re interfering with a person’s mindset and how they want to go about their life. And sometimes when people have really really loud exhausts and rev like crazy - which overflows the backfire - you’re frightening people. Not just the elderly, but people in general and I don’t think you need to do that. I think that’s an intrusion of people’s privacy and I object to it.

And finally, what’s your favourite part about coming to the likes of the Dubai International Motor Show?

It’s very simple. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t like the place. And I’ve been here maybe 20 times in my life and every time I’ve enjoyed it, and every time there’s been something really cool going on. And this time is no exception. The show itself has been hugely entertaining, especially with the new concept [vehicles].

Eddie Jordan with a microphone in his hand talking to the audience at the 2019 Dubai International Motor Show.

END OF INTERVIEW

LINK: Dubai International Motor Show

Dubai International Motor Show

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