Russell’s Role Models:Alonso, Schumacher & Djokovic
This season, McLaren drivers have won 11 out of the 14 Grands Prix held so far, but it was George Russell who claimed victory in Canada.As the lead driver for Mercedes, Russell has been performing consistently, regularly finishing in the top five and reaching the podium six times since the Australian Grand Prix.
He currently holds fourth place in the drivers’ standings, trailing only Piastri,Norris, and Verstappen. While he is not satisfied with this position, he acknowledges that it is still too early to contend for the title.
Speaking on the Untapped podcast, Russell shared the names of the athletes he considers his idols Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and tennis star Novak Djokovic. He recalled a conversation in which Djokovic explained that, even in his early twenties, he never allowed himself to skip training, and that this discipline enabled him to maintain a high level of performance with age.
Russell noted that although the physical demands in Formula 1 differ from those in tennis, they are nonetheless significant, and dedicated training is essential. He is particularly inspired by Alonso, who remains highly competitive at 44 years old.
He also pointed out that Schumacher won his first title with Ferrari at the age of 31. “I’m 27, and that fact gives me hope,” George admitted.
