George Russell - The African Mirror

Nov

2023

Verstappen finishes dominant season in record style

RED Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen wrapped up Formula One's most dominant season with a record-extending 19th win in 22 races at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The pole-to-flag victory, for the fourth year in a row under the Yas Marina floodlights, left the 26-year-old alone in third place in Formula One's all-time list of winners with a career 54. Only seven times champions Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) have won more. Sergio Perez finished second on the road for Red Bull but a five-second post-race penalty dropped the Mexican off the podium, behind Ferrari's Charles…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Hamilton sees himself at Mercedes until ‘last days’

MOTORSPORT

IAN RANSOM LEWIS Hamilton will only leave Mercedes if he feels he has nothing left to give them but would rather see out his "last days" with the Formula One team, the seven-times world champion said. Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the year and speculation about his future is already rife as Mercedes struggle to recapture their past dominance. However, Hamilton said he felt "amazing" about his future with the outfit. "I continue to feel very much at home in this family," the 38-year-old Briton told reporters at Albert Park. "I see myself with Mercedes until…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Leclerc wins Australian GP

SPORT

CHARLES Leclerc claimed his second win of the Formula One season for Ferrari with a pole-to-flag victory at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday as Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen suffered "deja vu" with another retirement. Leclerc's car showed impressive pace and performance on the upgraded Albert Park circuit to seal his fourth career win ahead of Red Bull's runnerup Sergio Perez, while third-placed George Russell grabbed his second podium and first for Mercedes in an encouraging day for the struggling constructors' champions. "What a race and what pace," said a thrilled Leclerc on the team radio, having finished…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Bottas leaves Mercedes for Alfa Romeo

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AFTER spending the past years playing second fiddle - “wingman” - to Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes driver Valterri Bottas is leaving to become the frontman at Alfa Romeo. Bottas spent five years during which he helped Hamilton win the driver’s championship and Mercedes the constructors title. He will replace the legendary Kimi Raikonnen -”The Flying Finn” - for the 2022 season. Raikonnen, whose career includes driving for Ferrari and Renault, is retiring from F1. Bottas will be replaced by George Russell, whose seat at Williams is expected to be filled by Alexandra Albon. Bottas…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Sprint qualifying claims first victim

OTHER

FORMULA One’s newly revised sprint qualifying race provided late Saturday entertainment - to the benefit of pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The fiery Red Bull shot through a cannon off the start line to lead championship rival Lewis Hamilton into turn 1. The flying Dutchman retained position after a nervous first lap and will start the British Grand Pirx from the start of the grid. Verstappen’s teammate Perez, after being passed by Norris on lap one, spun out later in the race. Perez, a disappointed figure, earned the title of biggest loser from the inaugural event with the one of fastest cars…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Mercedes’ Bottas hits back at “bulls**t” rumours

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER VALTTERI Bottas has had a staggering start to his Formula 1 season and its raising a few eyebrows. The Finnish driver has so far failed to beat his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the first four races, even after qualifying in pole position at Portimao, but coming in third place after 66 laps. Bottas’ current contract with Mercedes-AMG F1 ends after the current season, with his future becoming a regular topic, particularly considering the rise of performance by Mercedes junior driver George Russell - specifically his performance in Sakhir. “It’s early days - I haven’t thought really about…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

World champ Hamilton supports Russell’s apology

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER REIGNING Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has come out in support of George Russell after the McLaren driver tendered an apology following a dramatic high speed crash with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. This is what Hamilton said to Russell: " Strength comes from vulnerability. If you don't make mistake you can never learn the lesson. Respect for taking responsibility. On to the next one." Twenty four hours after the crash at the 2021 Emilia Romagna F1 race at Imola, which took both drivers after the race, Russell said he had time to reflect. In a statement,…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Sergio Perez’s historic Formula One win

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO SERGIO Perez had the biggest smile of the night, some tears and made history. Mercedes stand-in George Russell was the most unlucky in a dramatic Formula 1 race at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain which the Mexican won comfortably. Perez, in his penultimate race for Racing Point and probably his last in F1, capitalised on uncharacteristic mistakes by the Mercedes pit team, who caused telling delays to Russell and his teammate for the night, Valterri Bottas. Perez registered his first-ever F1 victory and became the first Mexican since Pedro Rodriguez in 1970, to win an F1 race. He…