GR 100 | The Five Best George Russell Moments So Far

This weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin will be a special one for George Russell, as he gets set for his 100th Grand Prix start.

99 races ago, George lined up for Williams in Melbourne for the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. Highs and lows, heartbreak, and so much emotion have followed since. To mark a century of races this weekend, we've gone back and picked out some of George's most memorable on track moments in the sport to date.

Mercedes Debut in the Desert: Sakhir 2020

George has been part of our Junior Programme since his GP3 career in 2017. In the same year, he undertook his first test with our Team in Hungary. Three years later, whilst at Williams, he was called up to make his Mercedes debut. This came at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain as he filled in for Lewis Hamilton, who was forced to miss the race having contracted COVID-19.

George was straight on the pace. Quickest in FP1 and FP2, he qualified on the front row alongside team-mate Valtteri Bottas for Sunday's race. By Turn Two, he was in the lead. It was an advantage he wouldn't relinquish until a pit stop mishap following a late race Safety Car and a cruel puncture dropped him back to P9 at the flag. His first points in F1 were little consolation for what could have been so much more that night in Bahrain. "I hope we get this opportunity again," he said, in an audibly dejected post-race radio message to the Team. He would. It had been a superb performance, and George had demonstrated to the watching world and F1 paddock what he was capable of in a car that could challenge for race wins.

First Points and Podium with Williams: 2021

George's three years at Williams were highlighted by a string of notable performances that exceeded expectations. A series of Q2 appearances in 2020 promised so much, but George was unable to convert the one lap magic into points come race day.

The first haul for Williams came in Hungary in 2021, driving a controlled race in tricky conditions to score a P9 finish for the Grove outfit. George was visibly overcome in the TV pen post-race, as two and half seasons of near misses on Sunday had finally come to an end.

"Three years of really hard work and difficult moments. It's been such a long road for us," he said in parc ferme, holding back the tears.

After the summer break, another stunning quali lap in dreadful conditions at Spa led to a first F1 podium. He showed his prowess in the dry too a few weeks later in Sochi, putting the Williams on the second row.

Silverware Down Under: Australia 2022

After a solid start to his Mercedes career with P4 in Bahrain and P5 in Jeddah, George picked up his first piece of silverware for our Team in Melbourne after a measured drive to the podium at Albert Park. The top three finish would be the first of eight for George in 2022. It was part of a consistent run of top-five finishes that would eventually stretch to the first nine races of the campaign.

"This is a credit to everyone back at Brackley and Brixworth," said George, describing a result which highlighted how hard he and the rest of the team were working to get back to the front after a tricky start to the season with W13.

First Pole Position: Hungary 2022

Hungary already held special memories for George following the previous year’s emotional post-race interview, but he ensured the Budapest circuit became even more synonymous with his F1 career by claiming his first-ever pole position in 2022.

Timing his final run in Q3 to perfection, George crossed the line to jubilant scenes in the garage to become the 105th driver to take a pole position in F1.

It may not have been what we had expected coming into the week, but for so many in the Team who knew George’s raw pace and talent, it was anything but a surprise.

"I'm over the moon, absolutely buzzing," he beamed afterwards. "I crossed the line and saw the screen go P1 - that was an incredible feeling!"

WATCH: Team Reaction to George's First F1 Pole Position!

That Winning Feeling: Brazil 2022

A moment he would have dreamed of from the second he first stepped into a go-kart. When George lifted the trophy on the top step of the podium on Sunday afternoon in Sao Paulo and took the applause of the Team and the adoring Brazilian fans below, you could see from his eyes that it was mission accomplished. He was a Formula One race winner, and it was nothing more than he deserved.

Having cruised home on Saturday afternoon to take the flag first in the F1 sprint, he again showed a level of maturity and precision beyond his years on Sunday, holding off Max Verstappen, both Ferraris and seven-time champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton to claim his maiden victory.

Not for the first time in this list, the result was the catalyst for an outpouring of emotion. But this was just pure happiness. There was even time for a quick facetime with the Boss, with Toto dialling in from home to congratulate his latest Mercedes F1 Grand Prix winner.

"Just a huge thank you to the Team for making this one possible. It's been an emotional rollercoaster this season," he said, in the aftermath of what can undoubtedly be called his best day on a racetrack to date.

It's already been some ride for George in F1, and we're delighted to have been front and centre to watch 40 of those from trackside and right here in Brackley and Brixworth. Enjoy the century weekend, GR - here's to the many more epic and memorable moments to come!