The One That Got Away

what, to you, is the number one thing that people don't get about george?

that's a great question and tbh a very complicated one. disclaimer: i obviously don't think i could really know the quote unquote real george russell because i haven't met him. but let's leave that aside for a second bc this is tumblr and it's my blog and i can do what i want

so um idk if it's the most important thing but the one that annoys me the most is that everyone seems to think george is a fucking loser. lol.

let me elaborate on that - he's been through some tough shit to get to where he is (as has anyone in formula 1 that isn't super rich tbh) and he definitely has the blorbo appeal of someone you can put in constant suffering because he's pretty when he cries. but the way this fandom talks about him as this pathetic guy with no agency who "never" gets what he wants and is doomed to always play second fiddle to x and y and z is soooo... nauseating. sure, it's great fodder for fanfiction, but that isn't the real george russell.

the real george russell likes to win more than anything and has been working to make sure that keeps happening his entire life. the real george russell became a back to back world champion in f3 and f2. mind you - he was out there having lewis fucking hamilton under his podium celebrating his championship. he's the type of guy who had the attention - and most importantly the money - of mercedes and toto wolff to bankroll his junior career. he was the very first driver mercedes signed to their junior program!!! the program didn't even fucking exist before him!!! like hello?? can anybody hear me???

sure - his williams years were tough. i don't blame ppl for latching on to that because those were some pretty traumatic and disappointing years for someone who up til that moment was used to annihilating the competition. but george is the same boy who one day decided "i want to be a formula 1 driver" and guess what? he got it. his father told him if he wanted to keep racing he would have to find a way to fund his career and guess what? he got it. then he got to f1 in a shit team and he said "i want to drive for mercedes" and guess what? he got it. everything this man has wanted has become his.

you can call it the power of manifestation or whatever but i see a man who isn't afraid to go after what he wants and works day in and day out to get it. the enormity of his desire disgusts me but i also love him for that. i want him to keep winning because he is like a dog chasing after a car and he will never stop until he actually reaches it. everything george russell has ever let go of is covered in claw marks.

also i think george is a hypercompetitive guy who has had to develop a really specific mindset to be able to cope in a sport where 99% of what happens isn't really up to the athlete. some things are outside his control and there's circumstances no one can really prepare for - and if you look at george's setbacks in his formula 1 career they have mostly been caused by that. when things are left up to him, he makes sure to grab the opportunity by the throat and he doesn't let go.

so to me this whole image that's been springing up about how george is losing out, about how toto doesn't actually even like him, about how he is never someone's first choice and how every other driver is getting his seat - that to me is pretty laughable and couldn't be further from the truth. the little boy in karting that used to terrorize the other kids and lap them as revenge... the boy who had to act like a man and suit up to convince toto wolff to back him - and toto DID. because he reminded him of himself and because he could clearly see how fucking hungry that boy was and what a good driver he would become.

this man is a ragebaiter with a bit of a mean streak who is not afraid of anything and loves to meet the bull's horns head on. he is so deeply analytical and has grown the skills necessary to not just drive the fucking car but actually try to *understand* it. he cut his teeth as a driver up against a seven time world champion (and his childhood hero) as his teammate! "i'm here to fight! i'm here to win! i'm not just gonna wave him by because he's max verstappen in a red bull!!" he's got a big mouth because he knows he can back it up. he loves to win and he will do everything in his power to keep winning - and may god help whoever stands in his way.