Eddie Jordan's role as a mentor for future Formula One stars has been remembered after the racing legend's death aged 76 following a battle with bladder and prostate cancer. 

Jordan will forever be linked with motor racing, having been involved in the sport in some capacity for almost half a century, playing his role as driver, team owner and pundit over the years.

But it is his time as team owner of Jordan Grand Prix that many racing fans will remember him for, having founded his own team back in 1991. 

In his opening year of ownership, Jordan put his faith in a young 22-year-old upshot named Michael Schumacher, with the German replacing Bertrand Gachot at the Belgium Grand Prix after he was jailed for aggravated assault.

Schumacher showed glimpses of his extraordinary talent in his first race weekend, qualifying in an impressive seventh place before crashing out on the opening lap of the race.

However, Jordan later admitted that he would never have given Schumacher the opportunity had the German been completely honest with him. 

'Sensational. But first he lied to me,' Jordan said as he recalled Schumacher's first weekend in F1.

'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.

'In my opinion, it was impossible to get to know the most difficult track and a new car in one weekend. His seventh place on the grid was therefore exceptional.

'His experienced team-mate [Andrea] de Cesaris, who wasn’t exactly considered slow on the scene, didn’t stand a chance. Seventh place was like pole position for us.

'Unfortunately, Michael’s race only lasted 500 metres. Then the clutch was burnt. My mistake. I had saved in the wrong place at the time.'

Schumacher's first race came to a premature end but Benetton-Ford had seen enough and swooped in to land the rising star. Jordan applied for an injunction to prevent Schumacher from racing for Benetton, but lost his case as Schumacher had not yet signed his contract with Jordan.

It would prove to be a sliding doors moment, with Schumacher going on to become a superstar, while Jordan was left to reflect on the one that got away.

Schumacher would win two world titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, before his remarkable run at Ferrari where he won five consecutive championships between 2000 and 2004.

Despite Schumacher leaving Jordan behind after his F1 debut to begin his ascent to arguably the greatest F1 driver ever, the pair remained close friends for years and shared an emotional moment when Schumacher completed his 300th race in 2012.

'At his 300th grand prix 20 years later, I handed him a new one (clutch), symbolically. 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 Grand Prix disbanded in 2005, with Jordan going on to work as a chief analyst for BBC and then Channel 4.

Meanwhile, Schumacher kept racing until 2012 after a brief retirement before finally walking away from the sport.

Jordan and Schumacher had known each other for over two decades, but in 2013 everything changed.

Schumacher was involved in a horror skiing accident that led to him being placed in a medically-induced coma for six months before continuing his convalescence at home from September 2014.

He has not been seen in public since due to his family's wish for privacy, and Jordan revealed in 2023 that he had been banned from seeing Schumacher by his wife Corinna.

In an interview, Jordan said that he 'made an effort to go and see Michael in the early days' but was refused.

'Privacy is such a vital aspect to sport, business and your personal life,' Jordan explained. '[Corinna] has set out some rules, I know her very well.

'She's a lovely girl and I knew her when she married Michael so there is a long history of good relations.'

Jordan clarified: '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.

'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.

'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 insisted he felt no ill-will towards the Schumacher family, as he expressed deep sympathy for the situation that Corinna had been placed in by the accident.

He added: 'This was the most horrific situation for Mick and Corinna.

'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.'

In the 12 years since his accident, Schumacher's standing in motor racing has become a major talking point. Is he the greatest F1 driver of all time?

His record of seven world titles has now been equalled by Lewis Hamilton, while Max Verstappen is also closing in after winning four championships on the trot for Red Bull. 

Jordan delivered his own verdict last year, and pointed out that one clause in Schumacher's contract 'takes away a lot from his legacy'.

He was referring to a comment made by David Coulthard on the Formula for Success podcast where the Scot revealed he was told by Ferrari that if he signed for the team he had to agree to relinquish his place to Schumacher if they were racing against each other.

Explaining the yield clause, Coulthard said: 'If I was running fourth and Michael fifth, then I had to move over and all the way right up to if I was leading.'

After hearing Coulthard's explanation, Jordan admitted it did not sit comfortably with him.

'When we’re talking about the greats, [Alain] Prost and [Ayrton] Senna and [Nigel] Mansell and Lewis [Hamilton] and of course Max [Verstappen] now, do you think, in terms of legacy, the fact that each of us, you and me both have had to encounter contracts, or visiting a contract with a view to signing it, whereby you always had to move over for Michael Schumacher, I think that takes away a lot from his legacy,' Jordan said.

'I really do believe that it has a little stigma on it for me.

'And if I was to say you know Lewis, or Michael Schumacher sure we all know how great Michael was and how quick he was, but I just always disliked that little clause, which said that he [Schumacher’s team-mate] had to move out the way.'

Jordan was always brutally honest with his racing analysis, and was just as open when it came to discussing his cancer diagnosis.

Having been diagnosed last year, Jordan gave a heartbreaking update on his condition last month after undergoing chemotherapy.

'Sorry guys, just a small thing, thank you,' he said on talkSPORT. 'I've just come out of getting chemotherapy and I'm not 100 per cent together here guys.

'I'm just not myself at this moment in time. I'm a little all over the place, so please forgive me.'

He then urged others to get themselves checked before it was too late for treatment.

'We've all heard about our wonderful friend, Sir Chris Hoy, who's an absolute megastar, and he is coming out and talking about illnesses like what I've got, but he's a far younger man,' Jordan continued.

'But this is a little message, and everybody listening to this: Don't waste or put it off. Go and get tested, because in life, you've got chances.

'And there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime.

'Go and do it. Don't be stupid. Don't be shy. It's not a shy thing. Look after your body, guys.'

Jordan's death was confirmed on Thursday morning as his family and the F1 community paid tribute to him.

Schumacher is still going through his own health battle and requires round the clock care.

His future remains uncertain, but it is clear from the way Jordan spoke about him that their bond stood the test of time.