George Russell returns to karting roots, backs next‑gen talent ahead of Miami GP

summary: Mercedes driver George Russell revisited his karting origins at South Garda with Toto Wolff and Susie Wolff, cheering rising stars Jack Wolff and F1 Academy rookie Doriane Pin – the latest woman to test a Mercedes F1 car. The five‑week break gave Russell a chance to reset before the Miami Grand Prix, where he sits second in the drivers’ standings.

Why it matters:

• Mentoring future talent, especially women, broadens the sport’s pipeline and aligns with Mercedes’ diversity agenda.
• A rested Russell adds momentum to Mercedes’ early‑season title push, keeping the team near the front of the championship battle.

The details:

• Russell posted throwback and current karting photos on Instagram, captioning “Same track, 23 years later! Very cool to be back…”.
• Susie Wolff shared “Once a karter, always a karter,” underscoring the lasting bond to grassroots racing.

What's next:

• Russell heads into the Miami Grand Prix second in the drivers’ standings, nine points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli.
• He told the IWC Schaffhausen event he feels “great” and “confident,” citing a strong Mercedes package on a street circuit.