Key Takeaways (TL;DR):
- Santiago Ramos Retires at 22: Former FIA Formula 3 driver Santiago Ramos officially announced his retirement from professional racing after failing to secure a seat for the 2026 season.
- F3 Career Highlights: The Mexican driver competed in F3 for two seasons, taking two race victories in 2025 with Van Amersfoort Racing (Australia Sprint and Emilia-Romagna Feature).
- Future Beyond the Cockpit: While stepping away from active driving, Ramos expressed a desire to remain involved in the motorsport industry in alternative roles.
The Mexican driver followed a traditional ladder toward single-seaters, stepping up from karting to Formula 4 in 2019. Across three seasons competing across Italian, French, and German F4 series, Ramos moved to the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) in 2022 before advancing to FIA Formula 3.
Ramos made his F3 debut with Trident, securing pole position at Emilia-Romagna. Moving to Van Amersfoort Racing for 2025, he claimed his breakthrough maiden victory during the opening Sprint Race in Australia. He followed up with a Feature Race victory at Emilia-Romagna and a runner-up finish in the Barcelona Sprint, ultimately concluding his final F3 campaign 15th in the standings following late-season setbacks.
Without securing a drive for the 2026 season, Ramos spent months reflecting before confirming his transition away from the cockpit.
“I spent months thinking about writing this, but to be honest, I lacked the courage to do it,” Ramos shared. “Part of me felt that as long as I didn’t say it out loud, it wouldn’t be real, but it is a decision I have carried with me for several months.
“Today, I want to officially announce my retirement as a professional racing driver. Finding words to close a chapter that was more than a profession for so many years is difficult. Being a driver was my dream, my life, my routine, and a massive part of who I am. Motorsport made me grow; it taught me how to win, but above all, how to lose, how to get back up after difficult moments, and to understand that giving your maximum does not always guarantee the expected result.
“Of course, there are unfinished dreams,” Ramos added regarding his goal of reaching Formula 1. “Accepting that some dreams don’t end exactly as we imagined has been one of the hardest parts of this decision. But I understand that a career cannot be measured solely by where it ended. When I look back, I think that the kid who started racing would be proud of how far he arrived.”
Ramos concluded by clarifying that while he is stepping out of the car, he intends to remain connected to the sport in new capacities.
The 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship returns September 4–7 for the Italian round at Monza. Full coverage of all sessions continues on GRANDE PRÊMIO.
