George Russell, driving car #63 for Mercedes in 2026, is a British Formula 1 driver and team leader with 3 victories, 3 pole positions, and 18 podiums through the end of 2025. Born in King’s Lynn on February 15, 1998, Russell demonstrated his talent during three seasons at Williams before earning promotion to the Mercedes factory team in 2022 as teammate to Lewis Hamilton.
Russell won his maiden race at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix and has consistently delivered results at or above the level of his machinery throughout his career. His famous substitute appearance for Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, where he led convincingly while stepping in for Hamilton, proved his credentials as a future star. His 2019 F2 championship preceded a Williams stint where he famously qualified the car in positions it had no right to occupy.
For 2026, Russell takes on his biggest challenge yet: leading Mercedes through a regulation revolution as their undisputed number one driver. He now partners the highly rated rookie Kimi Antonelli, and his meticulous approach to setup work and qualifying speed make him ideally suited to getting on top of new regulations quickly.
Russell combines exceptional Saturday pace with intelligent Sunday racecraft. His ability to read a race strategically, demonstrated by victories carved from unconventional strategy calls, is a genuine weapon. Mercedes will count on him to set the development direction for their new-era car, a responsibility that plays to his engineering mindset and detailed technical feedback.
British fans have a strong calendar for following Russell. The British Grand Prix sprint weekend at Silverstone in early July is the highlight, with the race at 15:00 BST and sprint at 12:00 BST. The European summer swing offers comfortable afternoon viewing in BST. Check United Kingdom time for conversions to your timezone.
At 28, Russell has the experience and speed to lead Mercedes back to championship contention. The 2026 regulations, with their emphasis on new power unit technology, represent both an opportunity and a risk for a team that won eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships between 2014 and 2021.