F1 News: Mercedes pay Taylor Swift tribute to departing Russell moment

Taylor Swift points accusingly at a smiling George Russell — Photo: © IMAGO

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Mercedes pay Taylor Swift tribute to departing Russell moment

The Brit's follow-up pose has been released

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Thursday 29 February 2024 23:57

F1 fans have officially been forced to bid farewell to George Russell's iconic 2023 introduction pose.

The Brit's T-pose was one of the biggest memes of last season, with Alex Albon revealing last week at pre-season testing that a number of different drivers had actually posed similarly in shots left on the cutting room floor.

Russell admitted nerves coming into this season's shoot, knowing he had a lot to live up to if he wanted to continue on as the social media 'meme king' in 2024.

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His season got off to a great start as Mercedes posted a hilarious out-take from an F1 photoshoot on their X page in the week after testing.

George Russell has become somewhat of a hit on social media

F1 heads to Bahrain this weekend for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix

F1 Twitter reacts to Russell meme in Taylor Swift nod

In the new opening credits, Russell is seen in quite a standard, generic pose, walking up to the camera with a rather deadpan expression on his face.

Introducing your 2024 opening titles ? #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/aletZnSlaG
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 29, 2024

Mercedes themselves were the first to mourn over the removal of Russell's T-shaped posture, presumably with their social media team now realising they have more work to do to market their driver.

They posted a memorial post for the iconic pose on X, using lyrics from popstar Taylor Swift's song 'Bigger than the Whole Sky'.

goodbye, goodbye, goodbye you were bigger than the whole sky ? pic.twitter.com/JMb45i24Ta
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 29, 2024