F1 Mogul Reminisces on ‘Rocking’ Times Spent With Taylor Swift’s Ex-Flame Who Debuted in Lewis Hamilton’s Backyard

It was a nostalgic moment for two Formula 1 legends, David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan when a fan asked them about the best F1 party ever. They sat down and reminisced about their wilder days, the after-parties that have become an integral part of the F1 culture, and the people they’ve met along the way, including a brief encounter with Taylor Swift‘s ex-flame, Calvin Harris, who made his F1 debut by performing at the 2023 British GP.

David Coulthard, who’s been around the F1 scene for years, couldn’t help but pick up a fan’s question on the latest episode of the Formula For Success podcast that brought a glint of nostalgia to their eyes: “The question he has for both of us is, uh, what is the best F1 after-party that you have attended?”

Eddie Jordan, the former owner of the Jordan Grand Prix team, is no stranger to a good party. He took a moment to ponder and then spoke his mind. “Well, first I must tell you, Norbert Haug, um, we do miss him in Formula One,” Eddie said wistfully. Norbert Haug, the former head of Mercedes-Benz motorsport, was, according to Jordan, “a legend for parties, and he was a great rock and roller.”

He continued: “He was the guy who used to bring my band to Hockenheim and to Nurburgring, so he’s a guy who’s a real star.” But when it comes to after-parties, Eddie Jordan had a clear favorite. “I’d have to say the early days of the after-parties, I absolutely loved the rock and roll band on the back of that flatbed at the British Grand Parade,” Jordan reminisced.

This particular party was at a time when F1 was all about the rush and the glamour, as well as the community that the races brought together. “That was synonymous and became really popular, and we now know, you know, we saw Calvin Harris and we saw the Black Eyed Peas. We even saw ourselves doing a podcast there, so it’s emerged and grown into something really, really popular and fantastic.”

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“However, I do feel Monaco, as we’re sitting here…” he trailed off, implying that Monaco is, and perhaps always will be, the unmatched pinnacle of F1’s social and party scene.

Eddie Jordan sounds alarm on F1’s packed calendar: The severe impact of ‘too many races’

As Formula 1 gears up to awaken from its summer slumber, with teams and drivers preparing to hit the track at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, Jordan is expressing his concerns over a  debatable topic. He believes the current F1 calendar, which has continued to expand over the years, is at a breaking point, and not just for the drivers.

With 12 races already completed and 10 more to come before the season’s end, the schedule is grueling. This holds true despite the cancellation of both the Chinese and Emilia Romagna Grands Prix. Next season promises to be even more intense, with a record-breaking 24 races on the calendar and precious little downtime scheduled during the season. In fact, the schedule is set to feature three triple-headers. “It’s nice to have a break,” Jordan recently told the Formula For Success podcast during the summer shutdown, highlighting the significance of time off, not just for the drivers but for everyone involved in the sport.

According to Jordan, the packed calendar puts a severe impact on the physical and mental health of those working tirelessly behind the scenes. The scenario painted by Jordan is a delicate balancing act. As the F1 calendar becomes more demanding, the engineering and technical teams are stretched thin. They are required to maintain the current season’s car while simultaneously developing the next generation of racing machines.

With an ever-expanding calendar, the space for engineers and other staff to rest, recuperate, and spend quality time with family becomes narrower. In a world where mental and physical health is becoming an increasing concern, perhaps it’s time for Formula 1 to take a pit stop and reassess the toll that the current racing schedule takes on those who fuel the sport.

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