When Eddie Jordan recounted Michael Schumacher's early days: "What he did with a car was insane"

Owner of the eponymous team from 1991 to 2004, Eddie Jordan enabled Michael Schumacher to make a thunderous F1 debut in 1991. The dashing Irishman could have ignored Mercedes' arguments and entrusted his car to the experienced Stefan Johansson. With the same budget, however, he took the risk of youth. As he always did.

Published 20/03/2025 à 11:45

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When Eddie Jordan recounted Michael Schumacher's early days: "What he did with a car was insane"

Michael Schumacher storms Raidillon with the Jordan 191. Photo DPPI / Eric Vargiolu

This interview is from the Collector AUTOhebdo dedicated to Michael Schumacher, available on our online store.

What did you know about Michael Schumacher before you put him in your car at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix?

I had seen him driving in F3 German in 1990 when he won the championship while he was in Willi Weber's team (WTS for Weber Trella Stuttgart. Editor's note), not so much in Sport-Proto. In 1991, it was my first year in F1 and there was this guy from Mercedes who was almost pestering me to take him, but I wasn't interested. I was very happy with Andrea de Cesaris and Bertrand Gachot, and I was focused on the good running of the team, not on the drivers. The year before, Frentzen (Heinz-Harald. Ed.) had