Irvine Eddie(Ireland, 10/11/1965)

Eddie Irvine (born on 10 November 1965 in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a former British racing driver who was a prominent figure in Formula 1 from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. His motorsport career developed through a solid progression in junior categories before he became a well-known face of the Formula 1 era.

After starting in karting, Irvine moved to single-seaters in the early 1980s. In 1987 he won the Irish Formula Ford 1600 Championship, a result that opened the door to British Formula 3, where he competed between 1988 and 1989. At the same time, he also stood out in touring car and GT racing, experience that helped shape his aggressive and direct driving style.

His Formula 1 debut came in 1993 with Jordan, initially as a substitute and later as a full-time driver. His first appearance at the Japanese Grand Prix became one of the most memorable of the era, as Irvine was involved in a heated confrontation with Ayrton Senna after on-track contact, immediately making him a well-known figure in the paddock. With Jordan he completed three full seasons (1994-1995-1996), scoring several points finishes and contributing to the team’s growth as a midfield contender.

The decisive step in his career came in 1996 when he was signed by Ferrari to partner Michael Schumacher from the 1996 season onwards. Irvine remained at Maranello until 1999, playing a key role in the team’s rebuilding process. He achieved his first Formula 1 victories in 1999, a season in which he scored four wins and fought for the World Championship until the final race, finishing runner-up behind Mika Hakkinen. In those years he also contributed to Ferrari’s victory in the 1999 Constructors’ Championship, bringing the title back to Maranello after a sixteen-year wait.

In 2000 Irvine left Ferrari to become lead driver for Jaguar Racing, Formula 1’s new factory entry. He raced with the British team until 2002, achieving his best result with a podium at the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix and several points finishes during a technically and organisationally challenging phase for the squad. His final Formula 1 season was 2002, after which he announced his retirement from racing.

Over his Formula 1 career Eddie Irvine contested 148 Grands Prix, achieving 4 victories, 12 podium finishes and numerous top-class results. He is also remembered for statistical records, including holding for a time the record for most races before securing a first victory, achieved in 1999.

After retiring from competition, Irvine devoted himself to business activities, particularly in real estate, and made occasional media appearances as a Formula 1 commentator and pundit. He lives mainly between the United Kingdom and the United States and maintains a relatively low public profile compared to his racing years.

GP Results

GP/Points Graph

Year	Team	Chassis	Points
2002	Jaguar	R3	8
2001	Jaguar	R2	6
2000	Jaguar	R1	4
1999	Ferrari	F399	74

* World Championships with at least 1 point won (since 2001)

Year	Team	Teammate	Win
2002	Jaguar Racing Ford (R3)	De La Rosa P.	11 VS 6
2001	Jaguar Racing (R2)	De La Rosa P.	7 VS 6
Total			18 VS 12

Grand Prix	Team	Chassis	Pos.
Australian GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	4
Japanese GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	9
United States GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	10
Italian GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	3
Belgian GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	6
Monaco GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	9
Brazilian GP 2002	Jaguar Racing Ford	R3	7
European GP 2001	Jaguar Racing	R2	7
United States GP 2001	Jaguar Racing	R2	5
British GP 2001	Jaguar Racing	R2	9
Monaco GP 2001	Jaguar Racing	R2	3
Austrian GP 2001	Jaguar Racing	R2	7
Malaysian GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	6
Japanese GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	8
United States GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	7
Belgian GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	10
Hungarian GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	8
German GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	10
Monaco GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	4
San Marino GP 2000	Jaguar Racing	R1	7
Japanese GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	3
Malaysian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	1
European GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	7
Italian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	6
Belgian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	4
Hungarian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	3
German GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	1
Austrian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	1
British GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	2
French GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	6
Canadian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	3
Spanish GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	4
Monaco GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	2
Brazilian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	5
Australian GP 1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	F399	1

* Grand prix finishes in the top 10 (since 2001)

---