In Formula 1, driving the car is only half the battle. There’s enormous pressure on you to deliver the best result possible every weekend. On top of that, you’re on the road for nearly half the year, which would take a toll on anyone.
After years in the sport, George Russell has devised a routine to help keep him grounded. It involved bringing a pillow with him wherever he goes, seeing a professional for mental health, and taking time off to focus on himself.
George Russell reveals his weekly routine to unlock performance
In an exclusive interview with UNTAPPED, George Russell talked about his weekly routine. He said that the three most important things in his routine are sleep, nutrition and mental health, which he believes has aided him this season.
20 podiums for George at the Silver Arrows 🌟 pic.twitter.com/edTwn5Ea0i
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) August 5, 2025
“You can’t forget the basics,” Russell told UNTAPPED. “First and foremost, I focus on the basics. Number one for me is sleeping well. I always ensure that, wherever I go, I travel with my own pillow to have that consistency, I travel with my own duvet. I make sure the room is pitch black and 18 degrees.
“Then nutrition. Even when I travel around the world, I eat the same foods. We send the recipes off to the chefs in the hotels. I’d love to go try to local Japanese sushi or some Singaporean street food or Mexican tacos. But when you’re doing that 24 times a year, that doesn’t sit well, and weight is a bit of an issue as someone who’s six-foot-two.
“Psychology is something I’ve worked a lot on, and I’ve found huge benefits in talking to a professional. Helping me deal with successes, helping me deal with the tough races and failures.”
Traveling the world as a F1 driver has it’s perks, but it isn’t an easy life by any means. Russell has found a way to settle into a comfortable routine, which has made life on the road just a bit more comfortable.
Russell’s best season of his career
Russell and Mercedes got off to a scorching hot start in 2025. He finished on the podium in four of the first six races, and even got the team’s lone win of the season in Canada. He’s gotten everything out of the car and more in the first half of the year.
Let’s hear it for your Canadian GP winner 👏 pic.twitter.com/0uXY7gY7jm
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 16, 2025
Russell has never finished higher than P4 in the driver’s standings. He’s currently in P4 and trails Max Verstappen by just 15 points. With 10 races to go, Russell will look to close that gap and earn his best finish in Formula 1.
Despite his performance this season, Russell still does not have a contract for 2026. He’s in talks with Mercedes for an extension, but Toto Wolff was holding out to try and sign Verstappen. With that option out the window, he has no choice but to shell out a lot of money to Russell, who hopes to get a multi-year deal.
