George Russell is a British Formula 1 driver, currently driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
The Brit worked his way up through the junior single-seater categories before stepping into Formula 1 in 2019.
But there’s more to Russell than just race results. We’ve rounded up five things you might not know about the 28-year-old British sportsman from King’s Lynn.
1. His Career Began in Karting
He began karting at just seven years old, and by the age of nine, success was already on the horizon.
In 2009, he claimed both the MSA British and British Open Championships, before adding another title in 2010 behind the wheel of a Rotax Mini Max kart.
Alongside current F1 stars Charles Leclerc, Alexander Albon, and Lando Norris, he raced against these future rivals in karting — and they still take to the track for fun during Formula 1 breaks.
2. George Russell Has a Girlfriend
GettyGeorge Russell and Carmen Montero Mundt started dating in 2020.
George Russell’s girlfriend is Carmen Montero Mundt.
She is a Spanish-born financier and fashion influencer who has been dating the Mercedes Formula 1 driver since 2020.
The couple frequently appears together at racing events and lives together in Monaco. Carmen is well-known for her supportive presence in the Formula 1 paddock.
3. George Russell Won Formula 2 in His Rookie Season
Looking back to when he proved he was wise beyond his years ⏪
Stuck in P2, he called his own race strategy and emerged from the pits…
Then overtook for the lead, and clinched the @FIA_F2 title! 👏
#F2 #RoadToF1George Russell progressed quickly through the junior formulas, racing in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship in 2015 and 2016, finishing 6th and 3rd.
He then moved to GP3 in 2016 and won the title.
Russell spent just one year in Formula 2, capturing the championship in his rookie season—becoming the fifth driver ever to do so and the fourth to win GP3 (Formula 3) and Formula 2 back-to-back.
4. George Russell’s Nickname is “Mr. Saturday”
By 2020, after a year in Formula One, George Russell had earned the nickname “Mr. Saturday” for extracting impressive qualifying performances from the underpowered Williams, including a standout 11th place on the grid at the Styrian Grand Prix.
Russell made a name for himself in the F1 paddock as a qualifying specialist.
But race day often exposed the Williams car’s lack of pace, sending him tumbling down the order.
5. George Russell Ended Up at Mercedes by Chance
George Russell’s move to Mercedes wasn’t a straight path. Despite his talent and strong results in the junior categories, he only landed in the Mercedes F1 seat due to a mix of timing, opportunity, and team circumstances. In 2017, he was announced as part of the Mercedes Junior Program. In 2018, he was announced as the Mercedes reserve driver. This allowed him to share third driver duties with Pascal Wehrlein.
In 2020, George Russell was driving for Williams, the team that gave him his first full-time Formula 1 seat after debuting in 2019. His connection to Mercedes, the engine supplier for Williams, played a key role in that opportunity.
Ironically, Russell scored his first-ever F1 points not in his Williams car, but while standing in for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes during the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, after Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19. That one-off appearance showcased his talent on the biggest stage and set the stage for his eventual move to Mercedes.
George Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know