George Russell

## Career Overview

### **Mercedes (Present)**

2018 F2 Champion George Russell made the shock move straight to Mercedes for 2019. Russell would have a very encouraging opening round, starting the race from inside the top 10. Quietly going about his business in the race, the Brit narrowly missed out on the win on his debut, following home the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc by half a second.

In round 2, Russell was disqualified from what was 7th place, as in the race he overtook the Alfa Romeo of Josh Tirowee under waved yellow flags and hit the McLaren of Nobuharu Matsushita in front.

Russell was on course for his first win at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Brit stormed to pole and took a commanding lead early on in the race, with some blisteringly quick laps. However, after the first round of pit stops, a loose wheel forced Russell to pull over and retire from the race.

Russell showed he has pace, but lacked overall consistency. The season was ended four races early, so Russell would have to wait until next season to try again for a race win.

2020 started well for the Brit. Looking to get on top of the DAS system, Russell qualified 6th and finished 5th in the first race. That would be as good as it got for the Brit. Russell picked up sporadic points finishes throughout the season, but lacked consistency to match teammate Daniil Kvyat.

#### **2021**

The German giants saw no reason to change their driver lineup, Daniil Kvyat and George Russell would once again have to push 110 per cent every race weekend to extract the maximum from the car.

The opening race was difficult but showed encouraging pace for both Mercedes drivers. Kvyat and Russell utilized the impressing power of their AMG branded Mercedes engines to secure a double points finish.

Russell's time to shine came at the British Grand Prix. Arguably his best performance since his debut race, the Brit managed a 7th place finish to secure 6 crucial points in front of the home crowd.

Mercedes endured a difficult shortened season, mired in the midfield. Russell finished 14th overall.

#### **2022**

Russell remained at Mercedes for 2022.

After a shaky start, Russell scored his first points of the season at Round 3, Austrailia with a 10th place finish.

Round 5, Singapore Grand Prix - Russell pit on lap 17, and undercut Tirowee who pit three laps later. A crucial move as the rain returned. Four laps later, some drivers pit for Inters, but others came in for new Softs, believing the rain would pass. This would prove to be a grave error in judgement, as at the end of the lap all those on Softs came back into the pits for Intermediates. On lap 28 Tirowee now held the lead, but Russell had his tyres fired up, and in a battle through sector 2, the Mercedes stole the lead. Contesting his fourth season in F1, Russell was still searching for his first race win. His wait would continue as he locked up into turn 1 on lap 29, and Tirowee retook the lead, both lapping last place Esteban Ocon during the exchange. Tirowee held the lead for the remainder of the race (+ FL), finishing four seconds clear of Russell.

There was a mass-pileup during the Belgian Grand Prix involving Russell. Most drivers made their one stop at the end of lap 10. Perez pitted for Hard tyres. At pit exit, his RB18 suffered a gearbox issue, as was stuck in second. The Mercedes behind of Russell plowed into Perez, shattering parts of the M13 all over the track. Unsighted drivers behind plowed into the wreckage. Russell, Gasly, Ocon, Albon and Matsushita all left behind their wrecked machines.

The four former would receive medical attention. The red flag was brought out, allowing Verstappen to hold the lead. Perez's fate wad sealed on the reconnaissance lap to the rolling restart, another gearbox issue holding the Mexican.

George Russell returned for the British Grand Prix, and was immediately on the pace, qualifying and finishing his home race in 6th.

Heading into the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes looked to be suffering less purposing as this circuit than any other so far this season. The German team was confident in their chances this weekend. George Russell lined up an encouraging 3rd. Verstappen qualified 2nd, but drops to 7th with a gearbox penalty.

Leclerc held the lead from a fast charging Russell. Mercedes had their first real chance of winning a race on pace, and pitted Hamilton on lap 14. Leclerc, Russell and Zhou responded on the next lap. A lightning stop from Mercedes got the Brit out ahead of the Ferrari and into the net race lead. Russell was putting on a masterful display of defending from Leclerc, the Alfa Romeos and Verstappen. The W13, for once, was running a lower drag setup, and was able to keep the faster Ferrari and RBPT powered cars at bay. Tensions rose when Sainz suffered yet another mechanical retirement on lap 23/33. Leclerc crushed Mercedes and Russell's hopes of a first win at the end of lap 27. The Brit had nothing left in his Hards, and a superior exit out of the final corner gave Leclerc the run he needed with DRS into turn 1. From there the flood gates opened, and the Brit dropped to 5th. In the chaos, Tirowee supremely passed Russell, Zhou and Verstappen through turn 3 to move into 2nd.

Mercedes' misfortune continued at USA. Hamilton was on a two-stop strategy, and once Leclerc picked up damage was on course for victory. He spun mid race on his own and dropped out of the points. Russell was on target for a top 5, but smashed into Sergio Sette Camara's Aston Martin and lost his front wing. A possible win or double podium lead to a pointless race.

Inconsistency again cost a podium finish for Russell at the Mexican Grand Prix. Zhou lead back to green towards the end of the race, but Leclerc used the slipstream down to turn 1 to assume the lead from the Alfa Romeo. The Chinese then played the team game and let Tirowee past. Russell also muscled past into the final podium position. Tirowee powered into the lead on lap 30/35, Leclerc had no answer on his worn Hards. Russell made a very opportunistic dive on Leclerc into turn 3 from way too far back and damaged his front right suspension. Another podium went begging for the Brackley based outfit.

Mercedes had one final chance to show the theoretical pace of the W13 at Brazil. Russell and Hamilton locked out the second row. Verstappen pulled away from the get go. Tirowee was a clear 2nd, after Russell lost time trying to make an overoptimistic move and dropped behind Hamilton and Alonso. Hamiltion made another error with the W13, and lost the final podium spot to Leclerc on lap 7. Mercedes developed well throughout the season, but constant errors cost the team a shot at Ferrari and 4th.

#### **2023**

Mercedes remain stable, and keep the same driver line up. George Russell had his best season since 2019, taking a second place at Singapore, and came within laps of his first win at Spain. His injury from the Belgian Grand Prix last season is far behind him, and he's fully focused on securing his maiden victory.

Las Vegas hosted the first of three Wildcard races, allocating 5 points for pole, and all 20 positions in the race. Josh Tirowee's Red Bull ERS issues were still occurring on lap 12. George Russell made a move down the strip, but Tirowee regained the place as both pitted at the end of the lap. Gasly span on lap 13, blocking the track after the strip, and brought out the first Safety Car of the season. Verstappen lead from Hamilton, Alonso, Russell and Leclerc. The squabbling from the three Mercedes powered cars allowed Tirowee to get back in the action. Red Bull were able to resolve the ERS issue under the Safety Car. Alonso squeezed out Russell on the run down the final straight, and Tirowee made his presence known passing both of them onto lap 23. The RB19 has a significant DRS advantage, as well as being the package to beat aerodynamically. Tirowee made it a Red Bull 1-2 on the final lap, pulling a gap over Hamilton. Hamilton and Russell brought the W14s home in 3rd and 4th.

Russell's Australian Grand Prix three laps early with a hydraulic leak. Whilst pulling off the circuit, an unsighted Vergne clipped the W14 and broke off some of his front wing.

The knifedge characteristics from the W13 began to reemerge with the W14 at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Mercedes could get heat into the Wets during Q2 and were knocked out in 14th and 15th. Hamilton had a better race than Russell, but could only climb up to 11th at race end. Russell had a race to forget down in 17th whilst struggling to keep the AlphaTauri of Lawson behind.