– George Russell visited a kart track in Italy during the Formula 1 break. On the grounds of South Garda Karting in Lonato, about 1.5 hours by car from Milan, the Mercedes driver earned his first international stripes.
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Together with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and his wife Susie (head of the women’s junior series F1 Academy), the 28-year-old was a guest in Northern Italy, among other places, to watch the team boss’s son in a kart. After all, Jack Wolff has been actively involved on four wheels for some time now.
On Instagram, Russell commented on his nostalgic short break as follows: “Same track, 23 years later! Very cool to be back at the kart track with Toto and Susie, watching Jack and the next generation of racers.”
Karting as a Foundation
To this day, karting is considered the basic training for a successful future in motorsport. Formula 1 legends like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, or Max Verstappen first made a name for themselves in this world.
From time to time, old video footage from childhood days in karting by Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, or Russell circulates on social media. Russell himself shared a few such photos in his Instagram post.
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These days, children and teenagers at international kart races are not only intensively scouted but even signed for one or another junior program of current Formula 1 teams. The prime example of this development is none other than Kimi Antonelli, with whom Russell is currently battling in his own garage.
The Mercedes driver was signed for the racing team’s junior team at just twelve years old and has since been considered one of the greatest talents in motorsport. The now 19-year-old celebrated his first Grand Prix victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Two weeks later, the prodigy achieved another victory, this time on the Suzuka circuit in Japan.
In the championship standings, the Italian is finally ahead of the six-time Grand Prix winner after three races. And if experts like Martin Brundle are to be believed, the top favorite for the title should certainly be concerned about the performance of his younger teammate. The next duel between Russell and Antonelli will take place at the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
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