Here’s everything you need to know about the family and brother of F1 star George Russell
George Russell hails from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, and his family includes his father Steve, mother Alison, an older brother named Benjy, and a sister named Cara. George’s early exposure to karting began at the age of 7, influenced by his brother Benjy’s involvement in competitive karting. In Formula One, George Russell has chosen to adopt the race number 63 as a tribute to his brother Benjy, who played a pivotal role in his karting journey.
Benjy Russell aspired to have a racing career with dreams of reaching Formula One, but his path didn’t lead to the same success as George’s. Benjy began his karting journey at the age of 11 and achieved notable victories in both British and World Championships. Despite his considerable talent and accomplishments, he couldn’t secure a spot in the Formula One world. It’s worth noting that Benjy is 11 years older than George.
What do we know about Benjy Russell’s racing career?
Benjy embarked on his racing career in 2001, which spanned nearly seven years until 2007. During this time, he achieved notable victories, including the ABkC ‘O’ Plate in Junior TKM Intermediate and the Super 1 National Junior TKM. His racing journey concluded with a second-place finish in the Kartmasters British Grand Prix. Currently, Benjy is 37 years old, with his birthdate falling on July 18, 1986. While he no longer pursues racing as a professional, his contributions to the sport remain noteworthy.
Benjy Russell maintains an Instagram presence under the username @benjyrussell. His account is currently set to private, with 427 followers and a total of 27 posts. It appears that Benjy prefers a more private and selective approach on social media, sharing his Instagram content with a limited audience, likely consisting of family, close friends, and colleagues. There is a possibility that he might consider transitioning from a private to a public account in the future, but for now, he values his privacy.
Benjy Russell’s younger brother – George Russell
Formula One star George Russell is presently a Mercedes driver, having transitioned from the Williams team where he competed from 2019 to 2021.
In 2022, he made a significant move to Mercedes, taking the place of Valtteri Bottas and partnering with seven-time World Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton. Russell secured his maiden Mercedes podium at the Australian Grand Prix, capitalizing on a well-timed pit stop during a safety car period, ultimately finishing in the third position. In August 2023, it was officially announced that Russell’s contract with Mercedes had been extended, ensuring his presence with the team until the conclusion of 2025. As of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, George Russell has accumulated one race victory, secured one pole position, recorded six fastest laps, and stood on the podium a total of ten times in his Formula One career.
In 2021, George Russell took on the role of a director within the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, succeeding Romain Grosjean, who had left Formula One to pursue a career in IndyCar. This position marked his involvement in representing the interests of Formula One drivers.
George Russell allowed his name to be associated with the inaugural GB4 Championship in 2022, a lower-tier racing series. His involvement led to the establishment of the “George Russell Pole Position Cup,” which is awarded to the driver who secures the most pole positions during the championship season. Notably, Russell had previously earned the “Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup” during his victorious campaign in the BRDC Formula 4 series back in 2014.
George Russell’s race number is inspired by his brother Benjy
The choice of race number in Formula One often carries a personal story, and George Russell’s number has a special connection to his family. In the Russell family, like many younger siblings, George inherited a “hand-me-down” from his older brother, Benjy Russell, who was also involved in karting.
Benjy had previously used the number 63 for his own racing endeavors, and when George entered the world of motorsport, he decided to adopt the same number in honor of his brother. This personal connection makes George Russell’s race number 63 all the more significant.
George Russell’s connection to the number 63 in Formula 1 is deeply rooted in his family. When he moved up to the Williams team as the Formula 2 champion, he had the opportunity to choose his race number, and he opted to stick with 63. He explained the significance of this number by saying, “Well, I am number 63 because that was the number my brother used to race with when he was in go-karting. When he started, that was the number assigned to him, and it has been a family number ever since. So, it’s in the family.” This choice reflects the strong bond and tradition within the Russell family related to this specific race number.
Conclusion
In summary, George Russell’s family includes his parents, older brother Benjy, and sister Cara. Benjy Russell, who aspired to have a racing career, had notable achievements in karting. George’s race number, 63, is a tribute to Benjy, signifying their deep family connection in motorsport. Meanwhile, George Russell has enjoyed success in Formula One, extending his contract with Mercedes and actively participating in driver representation and lower-tier racing series
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