George Russell Credits Lando Norris for Inspiring His First F1 Podium

George Russell Credits Lando Norris for Inspiring His First F1 Podium originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

George Russell’s first-ever Formula 1 podium came in the most extraordinary of circumstances at the rain-soaked 2021 Belgian Grand Prix — and he says fellow Brit Lando Norris played a key role in making it happen. 

Speaking about his unforgettable qualifying lap at Spa, Russell revealed he was struck waiting in the car for over 40 minutes during a session disrupted by rain. To pass the time, he studied onboard footage of Norris, who had been taking a unique line through Turn 1. 

“I was sat in the car for 40 minutes, so I started watching Lando’s videos on my screen,” Russell said. “I saw Lando was in a slightly different line at turn 1, he was going tight at t1, one of the only drivers to do that, so I thought, ‘I’m gonna give it a go, have one lap.’ Purple sector one.”

That single lap was enough to secure an incredible P2 on the grid for Williams, a position he would hold onto during the rain-shortened race the following day, earning him his first-ever F1 podium finish. 

It was a career-defining moment for Russell, who at the time was still proving his worth to top teams. Just months later, he earned a Mercedes race seat alongside Lewis Hamilton, a partnership that continued until the end of 2024. 

The story is a perfect example of how drivers learn from each ther, even in a hyper-competitive sport like Formula 1. Russell admitted Norris’s approach was eye-opening: “It just shows you, sometimes you have to look around at what others are doing and be willing to try something different. That lap changed my career.”

For Russell, that day at Spa was more than just a podium, it was a proof that even in F1, inspiration can come from unexpected places, even from your closest rivals. 

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.