George Russell

1. Who is George Russell?

George Russell is a British racing driver, he was born on February 15, 1998 in King's Lynn. He is currently a Formula 1 driver and plays for the Mercedes team. 

George Russell during testing in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2021 © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

2. George Russell’s junior journey

George Russell's single-seater career began in 2014 with a title in BRDC Formula 4, the British F4 category. A success which allows him, at 16 years old, to be the youngest winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC trophy, reserved for British hopefuls. 

In 2015, Russell entered Formula 3 with the Carlin Motorsport team. A promising start, with a victory and two podiums, which allowed him to secure a 6th place in the drivers' championship. After a second year in the category with Hitech GP, punctuated by two victories including one on the Pau circuit, Russell bounced back in 2017 in the GP3 Series. At ART Grand Prix, the queen team of the discipline, the British prodigy quickly made his mark.

He won 4 victories, 7 podiums and a championship title for his rookie year, instantly opening the doors to Formula 2. Still at ART Grand Prix, Russell exploded in the eyes of the world for his first season. With 7 victories, including 2 at Le Castellet and one during the last round in Abu Dhabi, the Briton won the title, 68 points ahead of Lando Norris and Alexander Albon. A demonstration of strength which confirms that Russell has the shoulders to go to Formula 1.

Victory for George Russell in the race at Yas Marina, last round of the F2 season © Sebastiaan Rozendaal / DPPI

3. George Russell’s Grand Prix (F1) journey

Protected by Mercedes, George Russell was placed by the star firm at Williams, so that he could do his apprenticeship there. But the team, in great difficulty, did not allow him to fight for points. He still stood out with an 11th place finish in Germany, and managed to dominate his teammate Robert Kubica during all the qualifying sessions.

Russell's 2020 season is off to a better start. With a car that can now compete with the Haas and the Alfa Romeo, the Briton doesn't miss an opportunity to show off. This is evidenced by his magnificent 12th place in qualifying for the Styrian Grand Prix, thus signing the best result for a Williams since Monza in 2018.

If Russell confirms that he is very fast on a lap, the performance of his car prevents him from shining in the race. On November 20, 2020, destiny gave him a little helping hand in Bahrain. Since he replaces Lewis Hamilton, affected by Covid-19, in the great Mercedes team. The Briton has a golden opportunity to prove he is a world champion in the making.

Best time in the first two free practice sessions, he fell just 26 thousandths behind his teammate Valtteri Bottas for pole position. The next day in the race, he beat the Finn at the first corner and escaped into the lead. As his first victory reaches out to him, Mercedes crashes and puts Bottas' tires on his car.

Russell during the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

To avoid a penalty, he entered the pits once again and came out behind Valtteri Bottas. He made an impression by overtaking him from the outside on the oval track, before going up like a ball. A slow puncture finally got the better of his superb Sunday. The Briton consoled himself by scoring his first two points in F1 as well as the fastest lap in the race. Beyond that, he will have above all shown that the German team can trust him in the future.

In 2021, the Formula 2 champion continues to shine with Williams by being patient. Still associated with Nicholas Latifi at Williams, he had another high-quality season, with four points finishes, in Hungary, Belgium, Italy and Russia. He even finished 15th in the world champion, ahead of Kimi Räikkönen.

George Russell's first podium during the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix© Antonin Vincent / DPPI

But it is in the summer of 2021 that George Russell will change his future. Thanks to a stratospheric lap in the Ardennes rain at the Belgian Grand Prix, the Briton invited his Williams to the front row alongside Max Verstappen. The next day's non-race frozen the positions behind the safety car and allowed him to secure his first podium in Formula 1.

A few days later, without knowing whether or not this had to do with his successful podium a few days earlier, Mercedes formalized the arrival of George Russell for 2022, as Lewis Hamilton's teammate and therefore replacing Valtteri Bottas, who was leaving. for Alfa Romeo.

At Mercedes, the challenge awaiting George Russell is enormous. Opposed to one of his youth idols, his compatriot Lewis Hamilton, the native of Kings Lynn will have to live up to it if he wants to confirm that he has everything it takes to embody the future at Mercedes and expand its track record.

4. AUTOhebdo's opinion on George Russell

His superb work in the modest Williams for three years, his prodigious Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020 in a Mercedes too small for him, and his numerous titles gleaned in Formula Promotion make George Russell one of the most gifted drivers of his generation, with Lando Norris and other Charles Leclerc.

At Mercedes, the Briton will have to manage cohabitation with the ogre Lewis Hamilton and do better than Valtteri Bottas in terms of results. Mercedes need him to regain the world crown, and George Russell will surely have the benefit of the first year to learn.

But will he be able to hold his own against Lewis Hamilton? It's the moment of truth for someone who grew up in Tydd St-Giles. He will finally have the equipment at his disposal to show that he can perform at a high level. It will be up to him to show it!

5. Learn more about George Russell

• Russell's first steps at Mercedes
• Can Russell join the fight for the title in 2022?