George Russell opens up on safety and motivation: “It was disgusting”. George Russell, Mercedes driver and safety advocate, shares what drives his motivation to improve Formula 1 safety.

George Russell, the voice of safety in Formula 1, reveals what drives his strong motivation and key decisions

Now in the middle of his seventh season competing in the Formula 1 World Championship, George Russell has firmly established himself as a cornerstone of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. But the 27-year-old British driver has also distinguished himself off the track, becoming one of the most outspoken and engaged drivers in the ongoing debate about critical issues such as driver safety and the strategic direction taken by the FIA, the sport’s governing body.

Since 2021, when he was still racing for Williams, George Russell has been a dedicated member of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), taking over the role from former driver Romain Grosjean. After the retirement of Sebastian Vettel, Russell remained the only active driver in the association until the arrival of Carlos Sainz in early 2025. Together with GPDA president Alexander Wurz and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle, Russell and Sainz are actively working to enhance safety standards and improve working conditions for all Formula 1 drivers.

A commitment born from personal experience
George Russell explained in an interview with Motorsport that he is not motivated by a desire to leave a legacy, but rather by the immediate need to intervene whenever he sees opportunities to improve safety on the track. “In 2012, I was teammates with Billy Monger and I witnessed his crash live. Then, I saw the tragedy of Anthoine Hubert at Spa in 2019. It was disgusting. And then there was Romain Grosjean’s crash in Bahrain in 2020. I passed him just before, and immediately after, all I saw was flames in my rearview mirror,” he recounted.

These traumatic events, witnessed at close range, have deeply reinforced George Russell’s determination to contribute to making Formula 1 increasingly safer for everyone involved. “It could happen to anyone, even the best driver in the world,” he added, emphasizing the absolute necessity to never let one’s guard down when it comes to safety.

A more united driver group than ever before
The British driver has also observed how, over recent years, the Formula 1 drivers have become more united as a group, helped in part by the sport’s growing global visibility through the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive. Although Russell has in the past criticised the leadership of FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem, he has acknowledged positive progress in institutional relations. “We don’t want to fight against the FIA or Formula 1. We want to work together for the common good,” he said, praising the constructive collaboration with race director Rui Marques and sporting director Tim Malyon.

George Russell’s candidness, similar to that of Lando Norris in openly discussing mental health, has often made him a target of criticism. However, the Mercedes driver appears unfazed by negative comments. “The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing. Everyone will always have an opinion, but it’s not something that bothers me,” he explained.

Through his commitment and honesty, George Russell confirms himself not only as one of the leading drivers on the grid but also as an authoritative voice advocating for the safety and well-being of all Formula 1 participants.