Russell Admits To Speeding: 'If I Get Stopped, Might Lose My Licence'

Friday, 29 December 2023 at 19:00

Mercedes F1 driver George Russell recently shared he used to speed a lot on country roads, but learned it's not needed.

George Russell grew up driving fast. He began karting at the age of seven and then moved through other series like Formula Renault, Formula 3, and Formula 2 to his current position in F1.

Many drivers have different perspectives on driving cars on public roads outside of Formula One. Some, like Lewis Hamilton, avoid driving as they don't like it.

Some, like Lando Norris, say they are great drivers but terrible passengers and have to sit in the driver's seat. However, none have admitted to speeding as George Russell did in a recent interview with Motorsport Magazine.

"I think as I’ve grown and matured, you learn what you need and what you don’t need and where your priorities lie. Even speeding on the roads, I used to speed a lot when I was younger, my parents used to live in the countryside, and I was totally within my limit but well beyond the speed limit."

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In Formula One, drivers do over 200mph (321 kph) as if it were nothing, so there possibly isn't such thing as going too fast for the 25-year-old. However, his perspective has changed:

"I just think to myself ‘It’s just not necessary’. If I get stopped, I might lose my licence, I might lose my whatever. That stress is not worth the rush that I got from that."

The British driver said he is aware of how lucky he is to be one of the 20 F1 drivers currently in the World. Being in this situation, he started taking less risks as he values the life he has.

"I’ve got probably the best job in the world with what I do and how stupid would it be to waste it on something like that or crashing my bike getting a slipstream off a bus down a hill in Lanzarote to try and break 100km/h? I think that just comes with age."