George Russell elevates British Grand Prix preparations with thrilling Typhoon Jet Ride

George Russell channels his inner 'Maverick' in a daring lead-up to his home Grand Prix weekend.

Mercedes driver George Russell (Image credit: @@GeorgeRussell63)

George Russell, a prominent figure in Formula 1, expressed his admiration for an extraordinary opportunity he had. He described it as the “experience of a lifetime,” referring to his flight in a Typhoon fighter jet. In preparation for the 2023 British Grand Prix, the driver representing Mercedes paid a visit to RAF Coningsby, located in Lincolnshire.

During his visit, he had the chance to meet the highly committed RAF Typhoon team responsible for safeguarding the airspace above and around the United Kingdom. George Russell commended their dedication and professionalism. In an Instagram post, the 25-year-old driver expressed his delight upon joining the fighter jet team.

“Seeing the teamwork, camaraderie and skillset within the whole of the RAF, I truly understand why it’s such an honour to work for the Royal Air Force. Thank you so much for the opportunity, for teaching me a huge amount and of course for the ride!!” His post was captioned.

FS Video

After such a daring and exciting experience, Russell will likely have a newfound appreciation for the calmness of an F1 car. He might even wonder if Mercedes planned the adventure to get him ready for the thrilling races next weekend. If the Brit can handle a Typhoon Jet, a few laps around Silverstone should be a piece of cake for George.

Also read: “This is the man y’all hate?” –Fans react as George Russell honor the Marshals involved in the 2022 British GP crash

RAF celebrates George Russell’s first-hand encounter with Typhoon Aircraft

RAF fighter jets (Image credit: F1i.com)

Sky Sports F1 captured the highlights of Russell’s RAF experience, filming it as a special feature. The segment is set to be included in the broadcaster’s pre-race program leading up to the British Grand Prix on Sunday. Russell joined the 29 Squadron at Coningsby and experienced the thrill of flying in an RAF Typhoon Fighter, unleashing his inner Maverick.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) joyfully expressed their honor and delight on Twitter as they provided George Russell with the opportunity to experience a Typhoon aircraft firsthand. In a statement, they expressed their deep appreciation. “It was a true honor to showcase the importance of teamwork and exceptional engineering, both pivotal to the RAF and Mercedes AMG F1 Team’s success #NoOrdinaryJob.”

George takes to the skies with the @RoyalAirForce exclusively @SkySportsF1 this weekend! ? pic.twitter.com/J4nFIK9c1z
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 5, 2023

Last year, fellow British F1 driver Lando Norris teamed up with the Red Arrows before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force. McLaren shared a photo of Norris in a Red Arrows jet’s cockpit, wearing their green coveralls, before the F1 finale.