Russell: I haven't always been into my mental health

The mental health of Formula 1 drivers has become an increasingly talked about topic in the sport, McLaren's Lando Norris arguably the most vocal about it and his personal experience in that regard.

Recently, Mercedes driver George Russell opened up about the topic in an interview with Men's Health Magazine, revealing his personal experience and when he first felt he needed to speak to a psychologist.

"I haven’t always been into my mental health," Russell revealed. "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," he added.

Russell went on to reveal when he first sought help; he said: "The moment when I thought I need to seek some professional help, I had a really difficult race. 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," the Briton reflected.

Russell also urged those who need help with their mental health not to feel ashamed to ask for it; he stated: "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. 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," the Mercedes driver maintained.

Russell is currently gearing up for his second season with Mercedes after an impressive debut with the team in 2022 where he beat his seven-time F1 Champion teammate Lewis Hamilton.