George Russell has joked that he might create a nude calendar if he does not secure a seat in Formula 1 next season.
After winning the Canadian Grand Prix, Russell was asked about a social media video that showed him possibly jumping into the Olympic rowing basin near the paddock to celebrate. He explained that the video was made by German photographer Paul Ripke.
Ripke is known for working with Valtteri Bottas in the past. He helped Bottas increase his social media presence by encouraging him to adopt a blonde mullet haircut and produce a nude calendar.
Russell said, “We have this crazy German who lives in Los Angeles, and he joined us this weekend. He is a friend of Valtteri’s and probably inspired Valtteri’s nude calendars and the mullet. He is here with us today, and he said, ‘If I win, we need to jump in the lake.’”
When Max Verstappen suggested that Russell should make a calendar too, the British driver, who has not yet signed a new contract with Mercedes for next season, joked: “Well, I’m considering the calendar. You know? If I don’t have a contract next year, I need to bring the calendar out to bring in the income.”
Although having a backup plan is smart, it is unlikely that posing naked will be Russell’s only source of income in 2026. His strong qualifying performance in Canada and his race win have fueled speculation that a new contract with Mercedes will be signed soon.
If a contract extension with Mercedes does not happen, Russell has also been linked with a possible move to Aston Martin.
