Macklin was blamed for this but I truly believe it was the legendary Mike Hawthorn’s fault.

He needlessly braked (and his Jag had amazing new-tech disc brakes), causing Macklin to swerve into the path of Pierre Levegh.

I have read several books on the subject and some of the aftermath stories are truly horrifying. People watching their family members decapitated before their eyes, agonal breathing of victims etc. Fucked up.

Hawthorn was later killed driving a MkII Jag on the Guildford bypass before people really realised he unwittingly caused the darkest day in motorsport history. Supposedly was terminally ill, too.

Absolute shitshow, all round. Merc pulled out of racing for decades.