Mercedes Formula 1 racer George Russell has disclosed that his virtual presence in rival drivers’ hotel rooms ahead of race weekends has led to complaints about distractions. This unusual tactic highlights the psychological gamesmanship at play during the 2025 season.
Russell, 27, is having a strong year with Mercedes, firmly establishing himself as the team’s lead driver. Sitting fourth in the driver standings with 194 points, he trails Max Verstappen by just 36 points and is closing in on the Dutchman who currently occupies third place. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri remain out of reach at the top of the table.
How Russell’s Virtual Appearance Distracted Competitors
In a revealing moment, Russell recounted an incident where footage of him appeared on TVs in the hotel rooms of other drivers. This led to some irritation among his rivals who felt distracted by the unexpected presence on their screens. Speaking at a Marriott Bonvoy event, Russell shared details of the stunt that unfolded at one of the Ritz-Carlton hotels where many of the drivers stay during race weekends.
“Those movies in the hotel rooms are always quite good as I had one of my own adverts that was playing in the hotel,”
Russell explained.
“It was in one of the Ritz-Carlton hotels where all of the drivers stay.”
He continued,
“They all came up to me the following day saying I was distracting them. Every time they walked into their room I was just on the TV screen talking to them.”
Adding a playful edge to the competitive tension, Russell joked about taking the idea further:
“Maybe I could do a personalised message to them, like ‘you will not win the race this weekend’ or something, so maybe we can do that!”
– George Russell, Mercedes F1 driver
Implications for the Upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Russell’s unconventional tactic suggests that psychological factors are becoming increasingly significant in races, alongside physical performance. As drivers prepare for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, it may be wise for Russell’s rivals to consider switching off their hotel TVs to avoid similar distractions.
With Max Verstappen narrowly ahead, and McLaren’s drivers also competing strongly for points, every mental edge counts in this highly contested season. Russell’s ability to unsettle competitors off the track could provide him with that crucial advantage as the championship battle intensifies.
