Mercedes driver George Russell is now coming into his eighth season in Formulation 1 and his fifth with the Silver Arrows. However this yr, he goes into the season as one of many favourites for the 2026 title, supplied Mercedes has delivered a powerful package deal according to F1’s new rules.
Forward of the season opener in Australia, here’s a look again on the Briton’s profession and the defining moments that led him to the place he’s at present.
European Karting Champion
George Russell
Photograph by: CIK/KSP
Yr: 2011, 2012
After successful numerous nationwide karting campaigns, Russell made the step as much as racing in Europe in 2011 and subsequently received the KF3 class. He went on to win once more in 2012, and completed fifth when he made the step as much as the KF class a yr later.
Single-seater debut in Formulation 4
George Russell, Lanan Racing
Photograph by: JEP / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Yr: 2014
After his time in karts got here to an finish, Russell made the transfer to single-seaters in 2014 and made his debut within the BRDC Formulation 4 Championship with Lanan Racing. Over the season, he picked up 5 wins and three pole positions on his solution to the title.
Third in Europe with Hitech
George Russell, Hitech GP
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
Yr: 2016
After successful in F4, Russell made the transfer to F3 in 2016 with the HitechGP crew. In his first yr within the European championship, he took two race wins to complete third behind champion Lance Stroll and second-place Maximilian Guenther.
Russell joins the Mercedes Junior Programme
George Russell, ART Grand Prix
Photograph by: GP3 Collection Media Service
Yr: 2017
On the conclusion of his F3 marketing campaign, Russell signed with Mercedes to affix its junior programme and spent 2017 as a take a look at driver for the Silver Arrows and the Pressure India F1 crew. He additionally entered third-tier F1 feeder collection GP3 with Mercedes’ backing and the ART Grand Prix crew, with which he received the title.
The Brit wins in F2
George Russell, ART Grand Prix
Photograph by: FIA Formulation 2
Yr: 2018
After a profitable GP3 marketing campaign in 2017, Russell took to the ultimate step within the feeder collection ladder and contested the Formulation 2 championship with ART Grand Prix. Over the season, he took seven wins and 5 pole positions to beat Lando Norris and Alex Albon to the crown.
Russell’s F1 debut with Williams
George Russell, Williams Racing FW42
Photograph by: Getty Photos
Yr: 2019
His spectacular flip in F2 didn’t go unnoticed, and Russell was promoted to Formulation 1 with the Williams crew in 2019. He joined the historic outfit at a troublesome time, nonetheless, and largely fought behind the pack with team-mate Robert Kubica.
Factors on the board
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W11, Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43
Photograph by: Andy Hone / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Yr: 2020
After a troublesome first season in F1, Russell’s second yr was no simpler because the struggles at Williams continued. Nonetheless, Russell acquired a style of front-running F1 equipment in 2020 when he deputised for Lewis Hamilton on the Sakhir Grand Prix for Mercedes. The Brit certified in second however, after a nightmare technique for the crew, completed in ninth – incomes his first F1 factors within the course of.
His first F1 podium with Williams
George Russell, Williams, 2nd place, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 1st place, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, third place
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photos
Yr: 2021
Lower than a yr after incomes his first F1 factors, Russell claimed his first F1 podium within the controversial 2021 Belgium Grand Prix. The Brit had a stellar run in a really moist qualifying to place his Williams on the entrance row – simply behind Max Verstappen. Rain additional impacted Sunday’s race, and it was known as off after a handful of laps behind the protection automotive, which secured Russell’s second-place end.
The strikes to Mercedes lastly arrives
George Russell, Mercedes W13
Photograph by: Getty Photos
Yr: 2022
After three season with Williams, Russell was lastly known as as much as Mercedes for F1’s new period in 2022 the place he raced alongside Hamilton. Nonetheless, the transfer coincided with a drop in kind for the Silver Arrows because it fumbled the ground-effect period, however the younger Brit nonetheless managed to out-score his rather more expertise team-mate over his first yr with the facet.
Russell wins his first F1 race
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, 2nd place, George Russell, Mercedes AMG, 1st place, congratulate one another on the rostrum
Photograph by: Getty Photos
Yr: 2022
Over the course of 2022, Russell was the one Mercedes driver to attain a race win – his first in F1. The win lastly got here Russell’s manner in Sao Paulo, the place he claimed victory in each the dash and the grand prix. Russell has since received an additional 5 grands prix for the Silver Arrows.
Making the step as much as crew chief
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Yr: 2025
Following the departure of Hamilton from the crew, Mercedes signed younger protege Kimi Antonelli, which made Russell the elder statesman on the Silver Arrows. He shouldered the extra accountability effectively and proved to be a formidable pressure over the season when his Mercedes automotive was in the proper window – securing fourth place within the standings behind final yr’s championship hopefuls.
One of many title favourites
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Yr: 2026
A brand new season and a brand new period in F1 brings new prospects for Russell. If the pundits are to be believed, he goes into this yr because the title favorite as many suspect that Mercedes might have aced this rule change. Nonetheless, he’ll face robust competitors from Crimson Bull’s Verstappen and reigning champion Norris, so his potential this yr stays to be seen.
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
