F1 chief went ‘absolutely ballistic’ at two stars in furious ‘total w******’ rant after Michael Schumacher crash
EDDIE JORDAN claimed he went “absolutely ballistic” at Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella after they crashed at the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix.
The teammates collided as they went into the first corner, with the crash also taking out Ralf’s brother Michael and Minardi driver Ukyo Katayama.
All four drivers were forced to retire from the race and Jordan was more than furious.
Especially since the two Jordan team drivers started at P4 and P8 respectively.
The crash had disastrous consequences for Michael Schumacher‘s hopes of winning the world championship that year after rival Jacques Villeneuve went on to win the race.
Reflecting on the incident on the Formula For Success podcast, Jordan said: “The ’97 car was particularly strong.
“And I get the impression that when Giancarlo was in second place, he wasn’t prepared to give it up for Ralf because he was much quicker.
“When he came to the hairpin and they ran into each other. I went absolutely ballistic.
“Even the most liberal country in the world would have censored what I said, I was so vicious with them. I told them that they were two total w******.
“Said that they didn’t deserve to be in the car and I was going sack them when I got them back.
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“I did calm down but I never saw the funny side of that, because in my opinion, they cost us. We had never won a grand prix at that stage.
“I felt really good about the team so for them to crash lights out was just sinful. I felt it was a very low regard for the team in itself.”
Team principal and owner Jordan said he forced the pair to sit with the mechanics for a week while they repaired the cars in the garage.
The team did eventually secure their first race win the following season with a one-two finish at the Belgian Grand Prix.
F1 legend Damon Hill, who joined Jordan in 1998, took P1 while Ralf Schumacher finished second at Spa.
Team Jordan finished fourth in the constructors championship that year, and third the following season in 1999.
Michael Schumacher won his next world title in 2000.