Formula One fans were treated to a light-hearted surprise at the Mexican Grand Prix on Friday when Mercedes driver George Russell went undercover in the grandstands to watch the opening practice session — disguised behind a bright green wrestling mask and a thick black coat.
The 26-year-old Briton, who has not watched Formula One from the stands since joining the grid, decided to experience the sport from a fan’s perspective.
With teammate Fred Vesti temporarily in his car for the session, Russell seized the rare opportunity to blend into the crowd and enjoy the sound and spectacle of the cars from trackside.
Posting on Instagram after his secret outing, Russell shared a selfie from within the grandstand and wrote: “Haven’t watched F1 cars on track in years, so found a way to sneak into the stands while Fred was driving my car.”
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The post quickly went viral, attracting nearly a million likes within hours as fans praised the driver’s sense of humour and down-to-earth attitude.
Formula One’s official social media channels soon joined in, releasing a short video titled Undercover George.
The clip showed Russell preparing for his incognito adventure, slipping on the green mask, sunglasses and a heavy coat before heading into the stands.
“Someone’s borrowing my car, I’ve not seen an F1 car on track for a long, long time, so let’s go,” he said in the video before making his way up the grandstand steps, his chin tucked into his jacket to avoid being recognised.
Once seated among the fans, Russell began filming the cars on his phone and was heard saying, “That’s my car,” as he spotted his Mercedes roaring past.
He exchanged a few words with nearby spectators before deciding his cover might not last much longer.
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George Russell recently signed a new Mercedes contract
|GETTY
Moments later, he jogged back down the stairs and pulled off his mask, grinning as he declared: “That was warm! I enjoyed that.”
Security staff were briefly taken aback as Russell vaulted a barrier on his way out, before quickly realising who he was.
One guard extended a hand to stop him before giving him a thumbs-up as he jogged away, still smiling from his impromptu stunt.
Speaking afterwards to Sky Sports, Russell admitted the experience had given him a fresh perspective on the sport.
“When you’re an F1 driver, you can’t watch F1,” he said.
“It’s rare you get the chance to go out. I tried to do something semi-normal, and you know what, I didn’t get recognised too much. I enjoyed it.”
George Russell will be hoping to win the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday
| PAThe Mercedes driver, who recently signed a new deal reportedly worth £30million-per-year, said the chance to see Formula One from a fan’s point of view reminded him just how special the sport is.
“To be honest, I’ve not seen an F1 car on track for years and years,” he said.
“It was cool — good to see what everyone else sees.”
The main event in Mexico commences on Sunday.
Oscar Piastri will be hoping to extend his lead at the top of the standings, with the Australian enjoying a positive season so far.
Pressure is mounting, however, with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen closing the gap in recent years.