F1 driver died after horror crash at Silverstone in incident that shook the sport to its core

A renowned Formula One driver was left dead after tragedy struck on the Silverstone track back in 1960.

Taking place in the lead up to the non-championship International Trophy at the track, the 12th BRDC International Trophy was run over 50 laps and won by British driver Innes Ireland.

However, the event was marred by the tragic passing of American F1 driver Harry Schell in practice ahead of the race.

Born in Paris, Schell had his first taste of motor racing back in 1940 having had to run two cars for Ecurie Bleu in Indianapolis following a car accident that cost the life of his father and seriously injured his mother.

Schell's career in motor racing

After the war, Schell became increasingly active on the French racing scene, making his grand prix debut in Monaco in 1950.

In the mid-1950s, Schell finished second in the Rome GP and third at Aintree in a Maserati before switching to a Vanwall in the 1956 French Grand Prix.

By the start of 1960, and nearing 40, Schell’s career as a racing driver was petering out, before he was contacted by the British Racing Partnership team ahead of the full European grand prix season.

Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Schell, sadly, lost his life at Silverstone in May 1960 as he crashed his Cooper at Abbey Curve.

In adverse weather conditions, Schell’s car slid in the mud on the side of the track and lost a wheel while driving at approximately 100 mph.

Ahead of his passing, the American was vocal about the promotion of the roll-bar on European racing cars, a safety feature reportedly required in America.

Schell’s crash at Silverstone, however, prompted change, with the feature becoming standard in Formula 1 by the start of 1961 season.

The lifesaving halo

A further safety feature implemented in 2018 saved the life of Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu in 2022. The halo became mandatory in 2018 and would go on to successfully protect Zhou at the Turn One run off area at Silverstone three years’ ago.

Zhou’s crash involved a multi-car pile-up, in which his Alfa Romeo was flipped and slid upside down before stopping between the tire barrier and the fencing.

Remarkably, Zhou was cleared of any significant injuries, with the halo doing it's job in protecting the Chinese racing driver’s head.

The British grand prix returns this weekend with McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris leading the way in the Drivers’ Championship.

Norris is expected to receive a fine welcome at Silverstone this weekend as the 25-year-old looks to secure successive first placed finishes, and win his fourth race of the season.

Norris now sits 15 points behind Piastri in the standings, the Australian finishing second behind the English driver in Austria last month.