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George Russell isn’t just racing rivals—he’s racing time. As Formula 1 evolves into a sport defined by fine margins and relentless youth, Russell is going all-in on something most fans never see: optimizing his life outside the cockpit to stay sharp, fast, and relevant for the next 10 to 15 years.
In 2025, it’s no longer just about pushing the car—it’s about how well you recover, how you can handle pressure, and whether you’re willing to go deeper than your competition.
At the heart of Russell’s 2025 transformation is an obsession with the small things. Every aspect of his pre-race routine with longtime trainer Aleix Casanovas is being retooled, starting with nutrition. The goal? Ensuring he’s physically primed when the lights go out.
“When you travel around the world, it’s not smooth on the body, it’s not clean on the stomach,” Russell explained to The Athletic. “It doesn’t matter if you’re flying first class or whatever, it’s still food from an airplane that is not your home food.”
It’s this attention to detail—tracking how his body responds to unfamiliar meals, flights, and sleep patterns—that’s helping him unlock the elusive one percent gains. He’s not alone in this approach, but few speak as openly about the behind-the-scenes grind. Where other drivers still rely mostly on physical conditioning, Russell is now pushing just as hard on mental strength.
George Russell celebrates after Saudi Arabian GP qualifyingAndrea Diodato/NurPhoto
He’s worked with a psychologist for five years, but this season, that relationship has become more integral than ever. “I personally think in five years’ time, this will be the norm - the same way as every driver’s got their own fitness coach,” he said. Importantly, his journey with mental health wasn’t prompted by a crisis. “I wasn’t in a bad place,” Russell said. “I just thought, ‘People are talking about it, there’s awareness, I want to give it a go.’ And it gave me more than I thought. Not only did it make me feel better, it started aiding my performances.”
This work has helped the Briton deal with the emotional highs and lows of F1—particularly the losses. He no longer tries to outwork every problem. “Everyone thinks more is better—’I’m going to do more hours in the gym, more with the team, more simulator time’—but there comes a point where it’s just inefficient and counterproductive,” he said. Instead, he’s embraced mindfulness. After every track session, he now takes 15 quiet minutes to scooter a lap of the circuit—not to analyze, but to reset. “It might not work for everyone, but it works for me,” he said.
He’s also learned to see failure through a wider lens, citing Roger Federer’s Dartmouth address as a turning point. The tennis legend explained that even in his victories, he only won 54 percent of points—proof that perfection isn’t a requirement for greatness, “If you actually break it down and understand it’s just sport, that will help you be at a higher level,” Russell said. “Nobody wins 100 percent of the time in anything.”
Living in Monaco, Russell has connected with other elite athletes like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, whose longevity and commitment to discipline left a deep impression. “You see it with the mentality and the drive,” he said. Djokovic, in particular, offered advice that stuck: the work you put in during your twenties lays the foundation for your thirties. “When he was in his twenties, recovery was good, and he felt he was doing above and beyond. But he said it’s paying dividends now.”
That message has reframed how the Mercedes star now approaches his own development. “Today, if i skip a day of training, it wouldn’t affect me. If I got a bit worse night's sleep, it wouldn’t really affect me. But maybe it will affect me in 10 years’ time,” he said.
Russell isn’t just trying to be a contender in 2025—he’s building the habits that could keep him competitive in 2035. In a sport that rarely allows room to pause, he’s found strength in stepping back, reflecting, and preparing for the long game. And as other drivers chase instant results, Russell's quiet evolution may be what ensures his place at the top—long after today’s hype fades.
Continue reading...
In 2025, it’s no longer just about pushing the car—it’s about how well you recover, how you can handle pressure, and whether you’re willing to go deeper than your competition.
At the heart of Russell’s 2025 transformation is an obsession with the small things. Every aspect of his pre-race routine with longtime trainer Aleix Casanovas is being retooled, starting with nutrition. The goal? Ensuring he’s physically primed when the lights go out.
“When you travel around the world, it’s not smooth on the body, it’s not clean on the stomach,” Russell explained to The Athletic. “It doesn’t matter if you’re flying first class or whatever, it’s still food from an airplane that is not your home food.”
It’s this attention to detail—tracking how his body responds to unfamiliar meals, flights, and sleep patterns—that’s helping him unlock the elusive one percent gains. He’s not alone in this approach, but few speak as openly about the behind-the-scenes grind. Where other drivers still rely mostly on physical conditioning, Russell is now pushing just as hard on mental strength.
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George Russell celebrates after Saudi Arabian GP qualifyingAndrea Diodato/NurPhoto
He’s worked with a psychologist for five years, but this season, that relationship has become more integral than ever. “I personally think in five years’ time, this will be the norm - the same way as every driver’s got their own fitness coach,” he said. Importantly, his journey with mental health wasn’t prompted by a crisis. “I wasn’t in a bad place,” Russell said. “I just thought, ‘People are talking about it, there’s awareness, I want to give it a go.’ And it gave me more than I thought. Not only did it make me feel better, it started aiding my performances.”
This work has helped the Briton deal with the emotional highs and lows of F1—particularly the losses. He no longer tries to outwork every problem. “Everyone thinks more is better—’I’m going to do more hours in the gym, more with the team, more simulator time’—but there comes a point where it’s just inefficient and counterproductive,” he said. Instead, he’s embraced mindfulness. After every track session, he now takes 15 quiet minutes to scooter a lap of the circuit—not to analyze, but to reset. “It might not work for everyone, but it works for me,” he said.
He’s also learned to see failure through a wider lens, citing Roger Federer’s Dartmouth address as a turning point. The tennis legend explained that even in his victories, he only won 54 percent of points—proof that perfection isn’t a requirement for greatness, “If you actually break it down and understand it’s just sport, that will help you be at a higher level,” Russell said. “Nobody wins 100 percent of the time in anything.”
Living in Monaco, Russell has connected with other elite athletes like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, whose longevity and commitment to discipline left a deep impression. “You see it with the mentality and the drive,” he said. Djokovic, in particular, offered advice that stuck: the work you put in during your twenties lays the foundation for your thirties. “When he was in his twenties, recovery was good, and he felt he was doing above and beyond. But he said it’s paying dividends now.”
That message has reframed how the Mercedes star now approaches his own development. “Today, if i skip a day of training, it wouldn’t affect me. If I got a bit worse night's sleep, it wouldn’t really affect me. But maybe it will affect me in 10 years’ time,” he said.
Russell isn’t just trying to be a contender in 2025—he’s building the habits that could keep him competitive in 2035. In a sport that rarely allows room to pause, he’s found strength in stepping back, reflecting, and preparing for the long game. And as other drivers chase instant results, Russell's quiet evolution may be what ensures his place at the top—long after today’s hype fades.
Continue reading...
