George Russell opens up about finally using the help of a psychologist after not taking before in his career especially after a big crash.
Of late, the buzz phrase not just in F1 but in general has been about mental health. Everyone needs to take ownership of same, even celebrities. Recently, Formula One’s latest race winner, Mercedes’ Russell gave an interview to “Men’s Health” magazine. He spoke about how his perception of Mental Health has changed since 2020 and mentions how beneficial speaking with a psychologist was for him.
Several F1 drivers have spoken openly about needing help and Russell joins the list. To the extent, he reveals how visiting a mental health professional was after a particular incident in his career. ”I haven’t always been into my mental health,” he started. ”I only started getting into it about a year and a half, two years ago, when I started to speak with a psychologist, mainly for my on-track personal performance”.
”It was only through those conversations that I felt like this is giving me more than just the on-track benefits. I’m coming away from these sessions feeling better about myself, feeling like there had been a weight lifted off my shoulders. Sometimes I went into these sessions with not a lot to talk about, thinking it would only last five or 10 minutes, and I was there well over an hour and since then it has been something I have felt strongly about,” summed up Russell.
As mentioned about, a particular shunt was a reason for Russell seeking such help. He did not go into the details of the crash – one might think it was his collision with Valtteri Bottas at Imola in 2021, but Russell did not reveal the incident.
“The moment when I thought I need to seek some professional help, I had a really difficult race,” continued Russell. ”I had a crash, and it was a very low point in my career. I thought I could just pick myself up from that moment and I was picking myself up, but we decided to speak with a professional”.
“And I was so grateful that I was advised to do that because I came away from that conversation and that meeting with him feeling so much better about myself, and put those negatives to the side, lifted myself up, and I was ready to attack the rest of the day and the rest of the week,” summed up Russell.
It was obvious a plus that it worked for Russell and he is not alone in terms of celebrities who have reached out due to this scenario. “The one bit of advice I would give to someone who is struggling with their mental health would be not to be ashamed about talking to somebody,” he said. “Whether that is a friend, or a colleague, or a member of your family, or reaching out to a professional”.
“We all have our moments where we are feeling a bit down, a little bit low but even when we are not, I think talking to somebody to almost have this mental maintenance just to keep ticking over, to keep in that positive place, is so important,” summed up Russell.
Here’s Toto Wolff on Andretti/Cadillac
Here’s Lewis Hamilton getting candid about life
Here’s Toto Wolff on using the extra aero time for advantage
Here’s Mercedes putting down speculation on Lewis Hamilton contract
Here’s Mercedes trio in Brixworth
Here’s Toto Wolff on not replacing James Vowles
Here’s James Vowles and Toto Wolff on the move
