Hermano da Silva Ramos, the dean of former Formula 1 drivers still alive, passed away in France at the age of 100: he had raced for the French Gordini team in the 1950s.
Born in Paris on December 7, 1925, Ramos passed away on May 4, 2026. He competed in seven Formula 1 Grands Prix between 1955 and 1956 driving Gordini single-seaters (photo above).
His best result remains a fifth place obtained at the 1956 Monaco Grand Prix, driving a Gordini Type 16, a result that earned him 2 points in the championship.
His last appearance in Formula 1 took place at the 1956 Italian Grand Prix, where he retired after only three laps due to an engine failure.
Exemplary centenarian
Outside of Grands Prix, Ramos also participated in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the famous Italian road race Mille Miglia. He became the oldest living F1 driver on April 8, 2023, after the death of Kenneth McAlpine at the age of 102. However, McAlpine remains the driver who lived the longest among those who participated in the Formula 1 World Championship.
Only three F1 drivers have reached the age of 100: Ramos, McAlpine, and Paul Pietsch, who took part in three Grands Prix between 1950 and 1952. Following Ramos’s death, the new oldest living F1 driver becomes John Rhodes. The Briton, born on August 18, 1927, in Wolverhampton, competed in only one World Championship Grand Prix, at the 1965 British Grand Prix. As of May 6, 2026, he is 98 years, 8 months, and 18 days old.
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The oldest living Grand Prix winner and world champion remains Jackie Stewart, the last surviving champion and winner from the 1960s, aged 86, as well as Mario Andretti, 1978 F1 world champion and still a Cadillac ambassador.
Regular at Le Mans
Born to a Brazilian father and a French mother, he developed a fascination for speed and mechanics from a very young age. As early as 1953, he formed a strong connection with Sarthe by receiving from the hands of Charles Faroux, then Race Director of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the trophy for the Sablé-Solesme rally won driving an Aston Martin DB2.
Da Silva Ramos also belonged to that generation of drivers capable of naturally navigating between several disciplines. After his sporting career, he distanced himself from racing circuits without ever breaking ties with the world of motorsport. Settled in the Basque Country, he continued to follow Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with passion, while maintaining close ties with several great figures of his era, including Francois Cevert, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, and Alain Prost.
In 2012 and then in 2014, he returned to the Le Mans circuit as part of Le Mans Classic. These returns led to particularly moving reunions with his history, his memories, his friends, and even his 1954 Aston Martin. In 2013, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest also paid tribute to him during the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, inducting him into the Hall of Fame of Brazilian drivers who have marked the history of the event.
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