George Russell, born on February 15, 1998 in King's Lynn, is a British Formula 1 driver who races for the Mercedes F1 team. His teammate in 2026 is Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

In 2018, Russell became Formula 2 champion, ahead of Lando Norris and Alexander Albon. All three drivers moved up to Formula 1 the following year. Russell made his debut alongside Robert Kubica at Williams, which endured a difficult season. In 2020, Kubica was replaced by Nicholas Latifi, who was consistently outperformed by Russell throughout the year.

Russell’s big opportunity came at the Sakhir Grand Prix, where he replaced Lewis Hamilton, who was sidelined due to coronavirus. He delivered an excellent race, but it ended in disappointment due to a failed pit stop and a puncture.

After his strong stand-in performance for Mercedes and his second place in qualifying for the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix (a race that was run for two laps behind the safety car), it was only a matter of time before Russell would be promoted to Toto Wolff’s team. That move was confirmed for 2022, as Mercedes parted ways with Valtteri Bottas and paired Hamilton with a younger teammate.

Expectations were high ahead of his move, but aside from his first Formula 1 victory, the 2022 season did not go as hoped. 2023 started better, although Mercedes was still unable to seriously challenge Red Bull Racing. That trend continued in 2024, although the team was more competitive at several races. Russell took victories in Austria and Las Vegas that season. After 2024, Hamilton left for Ferrari.

In 2025, McLaren dominated and Max Verstappen came close to a fifth title. Aside from Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Verstappen, Russell was the only other driver to win races that season, taking victories in Canada and Singapore. He finished fourth in the championship and, together with teammate Kimi Antonelli, helped Mercedes secure second place in the constructors’ standings.

In 2026, Formula 1 introduces a completely new set of technical regulations. The cars and power units undergo major changes, with electrical power becoming far more important—half of the power now comes from the battery. Mercedes is expected to perform strongly under these new rules. For George Russell, this could mean a real opportunity to fight for the world title for the first time.

In 2025, Russell delivered a highly consistent season. He did not retire once and only finished outside the top ten in Monaco. However, the Mercedes car was usually not competitive enough to match McLaren and Max Verstappen.

During weekends when Mercedes was strong, Russell showed his quality. He won both in Canada and Singapore from pole position and secured a total of nine podium finishes. By the end of the season, Mercedes finished second in the constructors’ championship, well behind McLaren.

Since the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, Russell’s relationship with Max Verstappen has been strained. The conflict started after an incident during qualifying. Both drivers were on preparation laps when Russell approached at high speed and had to take to the gravel to avoid a collision with the Red Bull driver.

After the session, both drivers spoke openly to the media. Shortly after, they were summoned to the stewards, where the situation escalated. Verstappen claimed Russell had lied to the stewards, while Russell said Verstappen was “extremely angry” and even suggested the Dutchman had threatened to “put him in the wall.”

These claims were later dismissed by Verstappen. The FIA ultimately handed Verstappen a one-place grid penalty, costing him pole position. After the race, Verstappen said: “I’ve never seen someone try so hard to screw someone over. I’ve lost all respect for him.”

Traditionally, Formula 1 drivers go out for dinner together at the end of the season. In 2025, Russell arrived last and could only sit next to Verstappen. He refused and moved his chair elsewhere. The rivalry was also mentioned during the F1 75 Live event in London, where they were at least able to laugh about it.

By the end of 2025, it appeared mutual respect had somewhat returned. Russell even stated that Verstappen would be the ideal teammate, as it would allow him to prove himself against the best driver on the grid.

Russell is among the highest-paid drivers on the Formula 1 grid. In 2025, he signed a new contract with Mercedes worth around €34 million per year. His net worth is estimated at €19.5 million.

George Russell convinced team principal Toto Wolff and Mercedes to offer him a multi-year contract extension in 2025. Confirmation of the deal took time, partly due to rumours about a possible move by Max Verstappen to Mercedes. Verstappen confirmed before the summer break that he would stay with Red Bull Racing for 2026. Russell’s new deal was officially announced in October and reportedly includes a significant salary increase.

Russell has been in a relationship with investment broker Carmen Montero Mundt since 2020. Before that, he was in a relationship with Seychelle de Vries, the sister of Nyck de Vries, whom he knew from the Mercedes junior programme.

George Russell is one of the tallest drivers on the current grid. He was born on February 15, 1998, is 27 years old, stands at 1.85 metres tall and weighs 70 kilograms. He will turn 28 on February 15, 2026.

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