It is the end of the year, the end of 2025, and only now i realised it is 20 years ago. 20 years ago when we saw Scuderia Minardi from Paul Stoddart and Jordan Grand Prix from Eddie Jordan for the last time on the grid. That last race of the season at the Shanghai International Circuit, it was the end of an amazing era. An era where both teams had shown they belonged in the Formula One. Even after all those years, I am still wearing my Minardi and Jordan gear when I attend a historical Formula One event. With me, many others still do even to today races.
20 years ago, I cannot believe it myself it has been that long ago when we heard the Cosworth in the back of the Minardi PS05 and the Toyota in the EJ15B screaming for the last time. The 2005 Chinese Grand Prix was not exactly how you would like to see it ended. Christijan Albers had to retire due to a wheel nut. Robert Doornbos ran out of fuel. While Narain Karthikeyan had was involved in an accident and Tiago Monteiro only finished as eleventh out of twelve.
How not to mention Paul Stoddart who 20 years ago? On the 24th of November took place behind the wheel of the Minardi PS05 and drove the last few rounds in a Minardi. Before Minardi became Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior team. Jordan Grand Prix became Midland F1 Racing. New team owner Alex Shaider was already done with the Formula one before his team drove a single lap with the M16. You knew the passion was gone with Midland.
The legacy however from Jordan Grand Prix only became stronger, likewise for Minardi. Giancarlo Minardi even started a decade ago the Historic Minardi Days. Trust me there are only passionate people drive around there in the Minardi’s and other Grand Prix cars and what not. The fan base is still there, likewise for the Jordan Grand Prix team. If you see that almost by every Grand Prix in 2025 there was someone wearing Jordan Grand Prix clothing.
With Eddie Jordan passing away in 2025, you could feel the older fan base grief. The messages, the anecdotes the stories that were shared from 20 years ago. It all shown that the legacy is only getting stronger. With many of my generation and the generations before me willing to return to the V10 era. When teams like Minardi and in the later years, Jordan could be sensational. Like Jos Verstappen at Magny-Cours in 2003 putting his PS03 on pole on the Thursday. Fisico eventually winning the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix. It all contributed to the legacy.
Before we know it 25 years have passed, and before we know, we are all 90+ in a retirement home. Mumbling about the good old days of Formula One. All mentioning Minardi and Jordan. As we know deep inside, that in 2005 the Formula One became something we don’t recognize anymore. The feeling of a Minardi scoring points in 1999, or a Jordan on the podium in 2003, it is what we really want to see isn’t it?
©chatGPT
