Tributes pour in as F1 legend Tony Brooks passes away

Various names from the Formula 1 world have paid tribute to legendary former driver Tony Brooks, who has passed away at the age of 90.

Brooks came to prominence in the 1950s, where he raced alongside the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss.

Known to many as the "racing dentist", Brooks had been studying at dental school when he received the call to make his non-championship debut in the Syracuse Grand Prix of 1955.

Despite missing the opening day of practice, the Briton beat some of the home favourites to win the event for the Connaught team, and in the process claimed the first international Grand Prix victory for a British car since 1924.

Brooks went on to focus on racing full-time from 1956, and won his first World Championship event at the 1957 British Grand Prix, in which he shared his car with Moss.

He followed this with solo wins in 1958 and 1959 with Vanwall and Ferrari but, after the 1961 campaign, Brooks retired from the sport.

Before his passing, Brooks had been the last surviving race winner from the 1950s era, and has been remembered fondly by many in F1.

The sport's CEO, Stefano Domenicali, was amongst those to pay tribute, saying of Brooks: "He was part of a special group of drivers who were pioneers and pushed the boundaries at a time of great risk. He will be missed and our thoughts are with his family at this time."