Hermano da Silva Ramos

Hermano João "Nano" da Silva Ramos is a French-Brazilian former racing driver. He had a French mother and a Brazilian father., he is the oldest living Formula One driver.

Career

Da Silva Ramos was born in Paris, France. He first ventured into motor racing, driving an MG TC, in March 1947, when at the age of 21, he competed in the Interlagos Grand Prix in Brazil. During 1953, he began racing an Aston Martin DB2/4 in sports car races in France. In 1954 at Montlhéry, he crossed the line in second place in the Paris Cup but was winner of the Coupe de Montlhery. In the same year, he also participated in the Le Mans 24 hour race, with Jean-Paul Colas as his co-driver, being forced to retire after 14 hours following a rear axle failure. Also in 1954, he ran out of fuel whilst leading the Tour de France Auto and retired with a damaged engine in the Rally of Morocco. Later in the year in the Salon Cup, in which he also had to retire, he drove a Gordini Type 18. In 1955, he were disqualified for speeding in the Monte Carlo Rally, eventually classified 46th and fourth in class, won the Coupe de Montlhery again, won the Rally Sable-Solesmes and was fifth in the GT class of the Mille Miglia with co-driver Vidille.
Da Silva Ramos participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 June 1955 and scoring a total of two championship points.
On the death of Kenneth McAlpine on 8 April 2023, da Silva Ramos became the oldest living former driver to have driven in a Formula One Grand Prix and on the death of Paul Goldsmith on 6 September 2024, he became the oldest living former driver to have driven in a round of the Formula One World Championship since Goldsmith competed in the 1958, 1959 and 1960 Indianapolis 500 races, which were rounds of the Formula One World Championship, but were not Formula One Grands Prix. On the death of Hans Herrmann in 2026, he became the last living F1 World Championship points scorer in the 1950s. As of 2025, da Silva Ramos is the last living participant of the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2022 he participated as an expert in Emmanuel Reyé's documentary movie Le Mans 55 : Une tragédie française.