60. George Russell

George Russell is a Formula 1 driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, racing in his second season for the 2023 season.

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His career began with humble beginnings in karting in 2006. His talent was evident from an early age, as he swooped to the MSA British Cadet Champion and British Open Champion in 2009, announcing himself to the world of British Motorsport.

In 2010 he moved to the Rotax Mini Max category, where he became Super One British champion, Formula Kart Stars British Champion and won the Kartmasters British Grand Prix in a dominant season.
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Russell graduated to the Premier Junior Karting class (KF3) the following season, winning the SKUSA Supernationals title and becoming the CIK-FIA European Junior Champion in 2012 and 2013 to complete his lucrative karting CV.

George embarked on his first season of single-seater racing in 2014, claiming the BRDC Formula 4 Championship title on the first attempt. George also picked up numerous podiums in the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Championship that he completed part of the season and victory at Jerez in the Formula Renault Eurocup finale in a one-off appearance.
In the same year, he won the prestigious McLaren BRDC Autosport Award for his achievements. After just one year in Formula 4, he switched to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship for the next two seasons.

As a member of the HitechGP squad, driving a car powered by the Mercedes-AMG Formula 3 engine, George finished the 2016 season in third position, scoring two victories and making ten podium appearances.
George immediately impacted his debut at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix, taking pole position on his first visit to the iconic Guia Circuit. His performances attracted the attention of the reigning Formula One World Champions.

In January 2017, he was announced as the latest addition to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport line-up, following in the footsteps of Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon.

George competed in the GP3 Series – a support series to Formula One. he was racing for frontrunners ART Grand Prix in 2017. The Mercedes-Benz Junior met his expectations in GP3 – as he went on to take four victories, seven podiums and four pole positions on his way to winning the Driver’s championship with two races left to spare. These performances rewarded him with a pair of Formula 1 Free Practice outings with the Sahara Force India Team, which he duly impressed on both occasions.

In 2018, George joined the FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix while juggling his Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Reserve Driver duties. Russell amassed more victories than any other driver in Formula 2, as well as the most pole positions, laps led, and total amount of podiums – despite multiple unreliability issues. He claimed the championship at the season’s final round in Abu Dhabi, sealing it in style with his seventh win.

It was announced on 12 October 2018 that George Russell would compete in the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship with Williams Racing on a multi-year deal.

Despite a difficult 2019 season for the team, with a car that could not fight for points, George nevertheless put in some brilliant performances that further cemented his profile as one of the bright stars of the future.

2020, George put in some ‘giant killing’ performances, where he regularly out-performed his machinery on Saturday – making nine Q2 appearances throughout the season and threatened points finishes on numerous occasions in the Williams.

At the Sakhir Grand Prix, George replaced an unwell Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes and put in an incredible performance – qualifying P2 and leading the majority of the race before a mid-race pit strategy mix-up and a slow puncture near the end of the race, cruelly denied him a maiden victory twice! Nevertheless, he made his mark as a prominent star of the future.

In 2021, George finished his first podium in Formula One in the rain-affected Belgian Grand Prix. After an incredible Qualifying, he took P2 on the grid and the podium. George took a further 4 points scoring finishes, helping Williams Racing to 8th overall in the Constructor’s Championship.

2022 was a fruitful first year with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team. Despite difficulties with the regulation changes, George Russell secured eight podium places, including his maiden victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix to finish the year fourth in the Championship standings.

In 2023, George entered his second season with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team.