GEORGE RUSSELL will miss today’s media session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to illness.
The British 27-year-old is not taking any chances, having endured a four-month battle with pneumonia in November 2023.
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A post on Mercedes’ X account read: “Unfortunately, George won’t be at track today because he’s feeling unwell and resting up ahead of tomorrow’s track action.”
No further updates have been issued at this stage but Russell is set to be back in action for both of Friday’s practice sessions at the Baku City Circuit.
Russell opened up about his pneumonia battle when he won in Las Vegas last year, he said: “I really wanted to do it (jump in the fountains), but I was so cold after the race I thought I would get super ill.”
“This time last year I actually caught pneumonia and I was ill all the way into mid-February after Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.
“So I was like, ‘I really want to do it’, but then I was thinking back to the struggles I had this time 12 months ago because it took such a toll on the body.”
Russell arrives in Baku fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, having failed to pick up points in only one of the 15 races so far this year.
His new deal with Mercedes has yet to be formally confirmed, with team boss Toto Wolff recently confirming that he will remain with the squad next year.
The 27-year-old was caught in the middle of speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s future with Merc interested in the Dutchman.
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But Russell recently nailed his colours to the mast and said that he would have stayed with the team regardless, and even would have partnered with his arch rival Verstappen if the move had taken place.
Russell currently sits fourth in the F1 driver standings, with Mercedes third overall.
