Russell explains 'change in mentality' thanks to... Alonso

Fernando Alonso : pilot, champion, entrepreneur and now… influencer? In any case, the Spaniard's speech resonated in the mind of George Russell. It all starts from one podcast granted by the Iberian to the YouTube channel High Performance, last August. Inside, the double world champion looks back candidly on his long career in F1 and on his pilot mentality. The Briton, attentive to the words of his counterpart, had a click while listening to Fernando Alonso.

“[Fernando] said that if he could change one thing about his career, he would have liked to enjoy the moment more often when he was younger, explains the pilot Mercedes. I think it resonated with me because I'm living my dream here, but I'm so dedicated...I feel like I'm a true professional. I am interested in every detail. I give it my all and sometimes we forget to enjoy the moment with the people around us, to enjoy the places we go, to smile, and not to constantly be that 120% serious guy. who focuses on the smallest detail. »

Russell still so dedicated with Mercedes

At 25 years old, George Russell already has great experience in F1: if 2023 marks his 5th season in his discipline, the Englishman has not had the impression of enjoying as much as he would have liked since his arrival in F1 , in 2019. In order to remedy this, the winner of the 2022 Brazilian GP carried out “a little change of mentality” since the takeover. “It's a small change in the way I work with my engineers, things I focus on with the car settings or not. It's about enjoying life a little more.", he says.

For the moment, this new mentality does not really translate onto the track: since the restart, George Russell has still not found his way to the podium, and was even at fault on the last lap of the Grand Prix in Singapore , while he held 3rd place. Although he felt the benefits of the change in approach, the Briton reaffirmed that he remained as dedicated as he always was.

“That doesn't mean I'm less professional now, but it's just that I probably enjoy my life more, my environment, the people I have at home, my living situation, he added. I'm just happier. I'm learning new things that I never would have dreamed of doing before, so overall I'm in a good place. »

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