Ricardo Rodríguez

Ricardo Rodríguez de la Vega (14 February 1942 – 1 November 1962) was a Mexican racing driver who competed in Formula 1 in 1961 and 1962. His was the younger brother of Pedro Rodriguez, an excellent racing driver in sports car racing and in F1 as well.

Ricardo was refused an entry at Le Mans in 1958, because he was too young (16 years and 106 days), but went back in 1959 to race an OSCA in the 750cc class. In the 1960 edition of the French classic, he partnered Belgian André Pilette to second place.

At the age of 19, Ricardo became the youngest Formula One driver ever to race for Ferrari, when he was entered by the Scuderia for the 1961 Italian Grand Prix, a title he still holds today. He qualified a surprise second and so became the youngest driver in history to start from the front row, a record that was only beaten in 2016 by Max Verstappen at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Whenever he drove, Ricardo Rodriguez shone, and he even won the 1962 Targa Florio with Belgians Olivier Gendebien and Willy Mairesse in a Ferrari 246 SP.

When Ferrari decided not to enter the non-championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix, he signed to drive Rob Walker’s Lotus 24, but sadly died during practice, when the Lotus’ rear suspension failed at the fearsome Peraltada turn, and it hit the barriers at full speed. He was 20 years old and his death provoked national mourning in Mexico.