F1 drivers usually come from privileged backgrounds. Considering the ladder to the top is so expensive at every step that it filters out talents from moderate backgrounds.
However, with exceptional talents and hard work, people with humble origins have managed to make it. Like Lewis Hamilton, even his teammate George Russell comes from parents who didn’t have massive income and finances to sponsor Russell through F1.
But his determination and reaching the people at the right time brought him to Mercedes. Now, he is a Grand Prix winner, but it came after several sacrifices from his parents.
Also read: How Mercedes championship win in 2014 opened gates for George Russell in F1?
When George Russell wrote a mail to Toto Wolff for his father
According to Russell, his father worked 12 hours a day and even on holidays to afford all the racing Russell used to do when he was a child. And that made him reach out to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
“You know my father used to work 7 till half seven every day,” said Russell. “Never saw him through the week. On a Friday night, jump in a camper van driving up and down the UK.”
Russell then said that back when he was a child. He didn’t comprehend these struggles. But by the time he had won F4, he realised it was hard for his parents to fund him for the F3 championship. So he had to do something out.
So from there, mailing Wolff about himself, making himself appear, and informing him about his existence came to his mind. Which in the end, actually worked for him.
He understood his father more when he grew up
Russell reveals that there were tense moments with his father when he was a child. Considering his father was also his coach on the track, he used to witness some harsh words on bad days.
Back when he was a child, he couldn’t understand it completely. But when he grew up, he realised that his parents were working hard to provide him with go-karting opportunities, so every chance missed was a big blow to their efforts.
At this stage, Russell is grateful for his parents’ backing him with hard work. In response, Russell brought success for himself in every feeder series, and now with Mercedes, he can win a championship in future. That would pay for all the hard days.
Also read: Ferrari boss who once scolded Michael Schumacher takes a jibe at Maranello team
