Proust Questionnaire: George Russell

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

George Russell: Celebrating a victory or championship with family. Nothing can beat that emotion.

What is your greatest fear?

George: Crocodiles and snakes. I hate them both!

Which person do you most admire?

George: Probably Michael Schumacher. The way he drove, his speed, talent, race craft as well as how incredible he was off circuit with the press, team and everything else. I think he was amazing and somebody I really look up to.

What is your current state of mind?

George: Excited!

When do you lie?

George: When my mother or girlfriend ask what speed are we going…

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

George: Haha! I have no idea. Probably the fact that I have to be very skinny and light to be a racing driver of my height. Hopefully that will change in the coming year with the regulation change.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

George: I don’t really look at men that way… Laughs no idea!

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

George: Personality! Absolutely. If she doesn’t have a good personality, I think you’d soon get bored of the looks.

When and where were you happiest?

George: After qualifying in Abu Dhabi this season. 2018 had been a season of huge ups and downs; entering the last round knowing I had a great advantage in the championship but also knowing anything could happen. Going into qualifying, I knew there could be an 8 point swing between myself and Alex. Something that had never happened to me is that my mind started to wander while driving. On the warm up lap during qualifying, approaching the final corner before gunning it I thought to myself “sh*t, this could be it! This could be one of the most important lap of my career” and then still, while driving over the line to start my lap thinking “blimey, this is quite a lot of pressure”. But the second I hit the brakes into turn 1, all of those thoughts had disappeared and I produced one of my best laps of the year. That feeling afterwards, knowing not only that was an awesome lap, but that we had really one hand on the championship was just incredible. I felt on top of the world.

Which talent would you most like to have?

George: Very random but I would love to be able to do accents. That’s something I often try and often fail, just embarrassing myself…

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

George: Being able to speak more languages.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

George: Winning the F2 Championship, no shadow of a doubt.

Where would you most like to live?

George: There’s something about LA and California that I love. I’ve never been before, but I just have this feeling I would love it.

What is your most treasured possession?

George: Family. Without them, none of this would be possible.

What is your favourite occupation?

George: Well, I’ve always dreamed of being an F1 Driver, so it has to be that.

What virtue do you most value in your friends?

George: Understanding my commitments and being fully supportive of that.

Who is your hero of fiction?

George: No idea…

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

George: Absolutely no idea, history was never my strongest subject.

What is it that you most dislike?

George: Two-faced people. That’s something I hate. Someone who’s your friend to your face but isn’t shy to say some nasty things behind your back. What is your greatest regret?

George: There’s no stand-out. Obviously there are many things I wish I could have done differently, but there’s nothing which I would class as my greatest.

What is your motto?

George: If in doubt, go flat out!!