Oldest living F1 driver passes away aged 100

Hermano da Silva Ramos, the oldest living former Formula 1 driver has died aged 100 in France.

Born in Paris, France on December 7th, 1925, he passed away on May 4th, 2026, having competed in seven grands prix in 1955 and 1956 for Gordini.

Ramos took a best finish of fifth, earning two points, in the 1956 Monaco Grand Prix in his Gordini Type 16 machine and made his last start at the 1956 Italian GP, retiring with an engine failure after just three laps. 

He also competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Italian road race classic, the Mille Miglia. 

Ramos became the oldest living F1 driver on April 8th, 2023, when Kenneth McAlpine died aged 102, with McAlpine being the oldest-lived driver to have competed in the world championship. 

Only one other driver has joined Ramos and McAlpine in reaching 100 years of age, this being Paul Pietsch, who drove in three grands prix, one in each of the 1950, 1951, and 1952 seasons. 

Upon Ramos' death, the new current oldest-living F1 driver is John Rhodes of Great Britain, who competed in one race - the 1965 British GP. 

As of May 6th, 2026, Rhodes is 98 years, 8 months, and 18 days old, having been born on August 18th, 1927, in Wolverhampton, in the Midlands. 

The oldest living grand prix winner and world champion is Sir Jackie Stewart, the last surviving winner and champion from the 1960s, at 86 years, 10 months, 25 days. 

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