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Formula 1

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United States Harry Schell

Races: 57

Podiums: 2

Career Points: 32

YearTeamConstructorPointsPositionEngineChassis
1950United States Horschell Racing Corporation Cooper    T12 
1950United States Ecurie Bleue Talbot-Lago    T26C 
1952Argentina Enrico Plate Maserati   Maserati Platé 2.0 L4 Maserati 4CLT/48 
1953France Equipe Simca-Gordini    Gordini 20 2.0 L6, Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 Type 16

Type 15 
1954Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati 1954 F1 Season : Harry SchellMaserati   Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6, Maserati A6 2.0 L6 Maserati 250F

Maserati A6GCM 
1954United States Harry Schell 1954 F1 Season : Harry SchellMaserati   Maserati A6 2.0 L6, Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 250F

Maserati A6GCM 
1955Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari   Ferrari 555 2.5 L4, Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 Ferrari 625

555

Lancia D50 
1955Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati   Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 250F 
1956United Kingdom Vandervell Products    Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 VW 2 
1956Italy Scuderia Centro Sud Ferrari   Ferrari 500 2.0 L4, Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 500

Maserati 250F 
1957Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati   Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6, Maserati 250F1 2.5 V12 Maserati 250F 
1957Italy Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati   Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6, Ferrari 625 2.5 L4 Maserati 250F

500 
1958Sweden Joakim 'Jo' Bonnier Maserati   Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Maserati 250F 
1958United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation BRM   BRM P25 2.5 L4 P25 
1959United States Ecurie Bleue Cooper   Climax FPF 2.5 L4 Cooper T51 
1959United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation BRM 18 BRM P25 2.5 L4 BRM P25 
1960United States Ecurie Bleue Cooper   Climax FPF 2.2 L4 Cooper T51 

By Jeremy McMullen

Racing can be infectious. Harry Schell's mother was not immune to its effect. It helped that she descended from a wealthy family as racing is also an expensive infection. Harry and his mother moved from America to France. It was in France that Harry's mother met Laury Schell and soon the two of them became quite invested in auto racing, specifically rallying. Born in 1928, Harry grew up watching his parents race cars. The infection spread.

Shortly before World War II, Harry's parents were involved in an accident that killed Laury and severely injured his mother Lucy. As the 'Blitz' rolled through western Europe, and the Germans came to occupy France, Harry and his mother left France and returned to America. Harry had already served in the war with the Finnish Air Force in 1939. However, upon returning to America Harry was given a commission in the U.S. Tank Corp.

Upon cessation of hostilities Harry returned to Europe and to racing. Schell drove Coopers in Formula 3 and Formula 2. When the Formula One Championship began in 1950, Schell was there. Schell's first race came during the Championship's second round, the Monaco Grand Prix. Harry arrived with his little Cooper T12 (See Cooper T12 article).

Harry, under the team name Horschell Racing Corporation, qualified in the 20th spot for the Monaco Grand Prix; with no time. The race unfortunately did not go any better. Schell was unable to complete even one lap after being involved in a collision at the harbor chicane. Harry, along with the majority of the field, was knocked out of the race.

Schell skipped the next event, the Indianapolis 500, but showed up at the event after, the Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten. Harry arrived under another team name. Instead of Horschell Racing Corporation, Schell ran under his new team name Ecurie Bleue. Harry also arrived with a different car. Harry chose to drive a Talbot-Lago T26C for the Swiss Grand Prix.

Harry had a new team name and a new car, but despite this, qualifying didn't fare any better. He ended up qualifying 18th, dead last, some 29 seconds off the pace. The race, however, did bode better. Schell was able to come up through the field and ended up the race finishing in the 8th spot, beating out the likes of Louis Chiron, Johnny Claes and Toni Branca. Schell also beat out other top drivers, such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Alberto Ascari, who suffered mechanical failures.

Schell, like many other entrants, abandoned going to the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps. Besides the championship races there were many other non-championship races taking place almost every weekend and this pace led to many teams not making the trip to Belgium. Schell, however, would end up not only skipping out on the Belgian Grand Prix but also the remaining French Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix.

Schell would compete in one other grand prix race in 1950 and it was the non-World Championship race at the Grand Prix of the Nations in Geneva. Schell started the race in the 12th spot after qualifying ten seconds slower than pole winner Villoresi. Schell's race ended after only 12 laps due to fuel tank problems. However, the race would have a much more tragic end as Villoresi spun and went flying into the crowd killing some spectators and severely injuring himself.

The few starts Schell made throughout 1950 do little to tell whether he drove in Formula One as the result of a passion for grand prix racing or out of habit, which was handed down to him through his parents. No matter what his motivation was Schell would end up being part of history and the revolutionizing of grand prix racing with his one start at the Monaco Grand Prix with the rear-engine Cooper T12. Entering only the couple of championship races, as well as his career results could easily overshadow reality. The reality was that Schell was regarded highly by his peers. Despite his playboy lifestyle and mindset, Schell was considered a gentleman behind the wheel with very capable ability, a consistent competitor.

Sources:

'Harry Schell.' Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 14 May 2009, 10:17 UTC. 19 May 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harry_Schell&oldid=289851323.

'1950 Formula One season.' Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 14 May 2009, 15:35 UTC. 19 May 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1950_Formula_One_season&oldid=289896911.
Formula One World Drivers' Champions
1950 G. Farina

1951 J. Fangio

1952 A. Ascari

1953 A. Ascari

1954 J. Fangio

1955 J. Fangio

1956 J. Fangio

1957 J. Fangio

1958 M. Hawthorn

1959 S. Brabham

1960 S. Brabham

1961 P. Hill, Jr

1962 N. Hill

1963 J. Clark, Jr.

1964 J. Surtees

1965 J. Clark, Jr.

1966 S. Brabham

1967 D. Hulme

1968 N. Hill

1969 S. Stewart

1970 K. Rindt

1971 S. Stewart

1972 E. Fittipaldi

1973 S. Stewart

1974 E. Fittipaldi

1975 A. Lauda

1976 J. Hunt

1977 A. Lauda

1978 M. Andretti

1979 J. Scheckter

1980 A. Jones

1981 N. Piquet

1982 K. Rosberg

1983 N. Piquet

1984 A. Lauda

1985 A. Prost

1986 A. Prost

1987 N. Piquet

1988 A. Senna

1989 A. Prost

1990 A. Senna

1991 A. Senna

1992 N. Mansell

1993 A. Prost

1994 M. Schumacher

1995 M. Schumacher

1996 D. Hill

1997 J. Villeneuve

1998 M. Hakkinen

1999 M. Hakkinen

2000 M. Schumacher

2001 M. Schumacher

2002 M. Schumacher

2003 M. Schumacher

2004 M. Schumacher

2005 F. Alonso

2006 F. Alonso

2007 K. Raikkonen

2008 L. Hamilton

2009 J. Button

2010 S. Vettel

2011 S. Vettel

2012 S. Vettel

2013 S. Vettel

2014 L. Hamilton

2015 L. Hamilton

2016 N. Rosberg

2017 L. Hamilton

2018 L. Hamilton

2019 L. Hamilton

2020 L. Hamilton

2021 M. Verstappen

2022 M. Verstappen

2023 M. Verstappen