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“I never ever get this nervous racing”: George Russell reacts anxiously to Lionel Messi and Argentina winning 2022 FIFA World Cup Final

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"I never ever get this nervous racing": George Russell reacts anxiously to Lionel Messi and Argentina winning 2022 FIFA World Cup Final

The 2022 FIFA World Cup final will live long in the memory of fans for being one of the greatest games of football ever played. Argentina and France went neck to neck for 90 minutes and could only be separated by a penalty shootout. Like millions (and possibly billions) of people around the globe, Mercedes’ F1 superstar George Russell was also nervous during those tense final moments.

Seven-time Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a penalty before compatriot Angel Di Maria doubled their advantage. However, a Kylian Mbappe brace brought the 2018 Champions back into contention as the game headed into extra time. Messi found the net again and almost everyone thought that the result was sealed, but Mbappe rose to the occasion once again with yet another goal.

It was 3-3 after extra time, and as the match headed into a penalty showdown, the entire world held its breath. Russell was extremely anxious during the shootout as we can see in a video shared by his girlfriend, Carmen Montero. The former Williams driver was heard saying, “I never ever get this nervous racing.”

As Gonzalo Montiel scored the fourth penalty to seal Argentina’s third-ever World Cup triumph, Russell too seemed to be relieved. It’s safe to assume that the 24-year-old was backing Messi and Argentina to win.

Also read: Daniel Ricciardo names $60 million per year earning driver as his favourite on F1 grid

George Russell hungry for better performances in 2023

The 2022 season was a breakout campaign for Russell, because he was in a competitive car for the first time in his F1 career. Mercedes were not the dominant force they had been for the previous eight years, but they were still fighting for podiums consistently.

Russell was one of the most consistent drivers on the grid. He even became a race winner for the first time, something his legendary teammate Lewis Hamilton could not achieve in 2023. He finished fourth in the standings, and it was also a better finish than Hamilton’s. However, the Brit isn’t proud of it and wants to achieve bigger feats in the coming season.

“I’m not going to walk away from this season with huge amounts of pride,” Russell said to BBC. “Because I finished fourth in the championship. We still need to keep raising the bar.”

Also read: Former F1 champion will disburse $1.8 Million if convicted for racism and homophobia against Lewis Hamilton

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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