The Remarkable Journey of Jordan Grand Prix in Formula 1

Stepping into the world of Formula 1 in 1991, Eddie Jordan’s team quickly made a name for itself. Before transforming into MF1 Racing for 2006, Jordan Grand Prix built an enduring cult following, nurtured the careers of several drivers, and even became a championship contender for a brief period.

Early Breakthrough: The 1991 Canadian GP

Jordan’s first Formula 1 car was impressive, as demonstrated as early as round five of the 1991 season. Andrea de Cesaris, who arguably never drove better than when he was at Jordan, led Bertrand Gachot as the team scored its first points with a fourth and fifth-place finish.

Introducing a Legend: The 1991 Belgian GP

Michael Schumacher’s arrival – as a replacement for the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot – has become a part of Formula 1 history. Despite clutch failure on lap one at Spa, Schumacher showcased Jordan’s commitment to nurturing young talent.

Making the Podium: The 1994 Pacific GP

Rubens Barrichello was another future grand prix winner who started his F1 career at Jordan. After a couple of challenging years, Jordan found its stride in 1994, and Barrichello rose from eighth on the grid to third in the Pacific GP at Aida, giving Jordan its first podium finish in Formula 1.

The First Pole: The 1994 Belgian GP

A wet but drying Friday qualifying session provided Rubens Barrichello with an opportunity to set the fastest time, securing pole position for the race on Saturday. Although Barrichello fell to third on the opening lap and later spun off, Jordan had reached another milestone.

Edging Closer: The 1995 Canadian GP

A deal with Peugeot provided Jordan with manufacturer support in 1995, though the 195 was rarely able to challenge the top teams. However, in a race of attrition, Rubens Barrichello and Eddie Irvine worked their way up the order and inherited second and third when Michael Schumacher’s Benetton encountered trouble in the closing stages.

Emotional Victory: The 1998 Belgian GP

Despite the arrival of 1996 world champion Damon Hill, Jordan struggled at the start of the new narrow-car/grooved-tyre F1 era in 1998. However, the 198 rapidly improved, and an inspired Hill qualified third at Spa. In a chaotic wet race that included a startline shunt and Michael Schumacher crashing into David Coulthard’s car, Hill led home Ralf Schumacher to score Jordan its first emotional F1 victory.

Frentzen Strikes in France: The 1999 French GP

Jordan brought out the best in Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and a combination of the 199’s pace and mistakes at Ferrari and McLaren kept the German in title contention. A clever strategy in a rain-affected Magny-Cours contest helped Frentzen to his – and Jordan’s – second GP victory.

Championship Challengers: The 1999 Italian GP

Consistent scoring kept Heinz-Harald Frentzen within touching distance in the drivers’ championship, and his chances improved significantly at Monza. He qualified second and inherited the lead when Mika Hakkinen dropped his McLaren. That victory, plus pole next time at the Nurburgring, gave Jordan genuine momentum, but electrical failure in the European GP put Frentzen out of a promising position, and he eventually finished third in the standings.

One Last Hurrah: The 2003 Brazilian GP

Jordan’s decline, with financial and engine issues, was swift, and the EJ13 was the second-worst car on the 2003 grid. However, a strategy gamble paid off when the race was red-flagged following Fernando Alonso’s huge crash. Kimi Raikkonen’s McLaren had just repassed Giancarlo Fisichella after an earlier error, but the Jordan driver inherited Interlagos victory when the results were – eventually – taken back to the end of lap 54, Fisichella’s only official lap in the lead.