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São Paulo 2022:
The Day George Russell Became an F1 Race Winner

13 November 2024
8 Min Read

“George Russell, you are a Formula One race winner!”

The words the 24-year-old from King’s Lynn had wanted to hear since first stepping into a go-kart at the age of seven.

Two years on from that career-changing day in São Paulo, we sat down with George to look back on how 17 years of hard work and dedication culminated at Interlagos, and why November 13, 2022 laid the foundations for a new chapter of George’s career.

“It was such a special day, crossing the line in first position having dreamt of that moment ever since I was a kid, especially after a tough season,” said George.

“There was so much effort that had gone in to turning that season around, so it was good to get a real sense of belief back into everyone.”

Win number one for George was a particularly significant one for the team, as he became the first driver to win a Grand Prix for Mercedes having come through our team Junior Programme.

“Having been with the team since my junior days and travelled around all those races as a reserve driver – being able to achieve victory for everybody who had contributed was really special.”

Despite being emotional himself in parc fermé after the race, the reaction of those around him in the immediate aftermath of the biggest moment of his career to date was not lost on George:

“I will always remember seeing Ricci [Musconi, George’s Race Engineer for 2022] crying with emotion afterwards,“ said George.

“That meant so much to me because he was someone who had won so many races, and championships, yet my victory meant so much to him, and the rest of the team.

“That is what will stick with me the longest.”

‘Let’s Go and Do It’

George walked into the Autódromo José Carlos Pace paddock that morning fresh from taking his maiden Sprint race win the night before.

Rules that season meant the winner of the Sprint race started the Grand Prix on pole position the day after.

He had started on pole in Hungary earlier in 2022, and while that race ended up with a P3 finish, George was confident he could go two better this time around.

“I was relaxed, and had full belief that we could win because back then you could not change your set-up between Sprint and Grand Prix,” he said.

“There was no reason we could not win the race having won the Sprint. I felt that it was my time to clinch it.

“The day before had been the first opportunity to win a Sprint, now it was the first opportunity to win a Grand Prix, so I thought ‘let’s go and do it.”

I never doubted myself that I would be able to achieve a victory

George

In the Groove

Seventy one laps later, a first Grand Prix win, was achieved in style in his W13. Sixty six laps led, and the fastest lap too.

Without a late-race safety car, the gap to those behind George and Lewis’ one-two would have probably been even bigger than the five seconds it was.

“We had a lot of time to comprehend that we could win,” said George.

“We started on pole, as a team led every lap, and at one point we were 10 or 12 seconds clear.

“I felt confident in myself and in my team. I was in the groove.”

While life-changing moments in time often teach a person about who they truly are, for George, São Paulo 2022 was more a confirmation of the belief he had always had in himself.

“I never doubted myself that I would be able to achieve a victory, so I would not say I learned anything specifically about myself,” he added.

“I had a strong season, on the same level as Lewis – a great driver with 100+ victories to his name.

“In a different era I knew there was no reason why I could not be fighting for World Championships.”

Next year will see George play the role of the more experienced driver in our team for the first time, as 18-year-old F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli comes on board for 2025.

“If the opportunity arises again next season I am sure we can be successful again, and because Kimi is a great driver there is no reason he should not be right up there with me in the same way I was right up there with Lewis in the beginning.”

George’s Story of São Paulo 2022:

Friday: Ends Sprint Qualifying in the gravel trap at Turn Four after sliding off in slippery conditions. His fastest timed lap is still quick enough for P3.

Saturday: Makes a strong start in the Sprint race, and moves into P2 on lap three, before passing world champion Max Verstappen on lap 15 for the lead.

George pulls away, and wins by nearly four seconds from Carlos Sainz, with Lewis in P3.

Sunday: Starts from pole, leads the field away for the Grand Prix, and leads from lights to flag, apart from five laps after his first pit stop. He also comfortably negotiates two Safety Car restarts.

George became the sixth different driver to win for Mercedes in Formula 1, taking the marque’s 125th victory in the sport.

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