F1 Driver George Russell onboard his Pershing 6X in Capri

Ferretti Group

I can say from experience that nothing combines relentless pace, intense pressure, stimulation overload, and the ultra-glamorous, circus-like-atmosphere quite like Formula 1. But I’m only just talking about attending Formula 1 races in Monaco and other glamorous oceanfront locations. Not actually competing in them.

In fact, even after talking to a few Formula 1 drivers over the years, I still can’t wrap my mind around just how intense Formula 1 racing is for those rare few who compete in high-tech, multi-million-dollar, open wheeled race cars on tight, twisting circuits, (and reach top speeds over 230 MPH on the straightaways). And oh yeah, the 2026 season that started in Australia in March and won’t be over until December in Abu Dahbi is as relentless as the competition on the grid.

But, they do get some time off every summer. In fact, the FIA-mandated two-week factory shut down has just started. That means no wind tunnel testing, no car development, no late-night simulator runs are allowed to give everyone in the paddock time off.

As you’d imagine all the drivers take the chance to recharge in different ways. But as I’ve learned over the years, more and more drivers (and owners too of course) retreat from the stress of the spotlight to recharge on their yachts in the Med.

George Russell who’s intimately familiar with the intense pressure, speed, danger, and cutthroat competition as a Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team driver is one of those drivers. But when I caught up with him after he’d just taken delivery of his Pershing 6X in Capri, he told me loves freediving as well as being on the boat when he’s away from the racetrack.

Now, for those of you who might not know, freedivers train to be able to descend to significant depths without external breathing equipment. Novice freedivers can usually learn to hold their breath for over two minutes and descend to over 20 meters while professional freedivers can dive well deeper than 100 meters and hold their breath for well over 10 minutes. That all seems like a pretty stressful way to relax to me!

“Funny enough,” he says as we relax the air-conditioned saloon of his new Pershing in Capri, “I grew up in the countryside on a farm. When I was younger, boating or going to the ocean was never a consideration if we were even fortunate enough to go on holiday. In fact, we probably only went on three holidays over the course of 10 or 12 years. And they were never on a boat or to the ocean. We were more land people,” he says with a smile.

In fact, he didn’t get any real experience with boats or the ocean until he met his girlfriend, Carmen Mundt. “Carmen grew up around boats, and her family always loved the ocean. I was actually a bit petrified of the water when I was younger.

“But as soon as Carmen and I started going on boats together, I instantly felt at ease on the water. I loved how disconnected from the world outside I felt. And since racing is always so fast and hectic, I quickly learned that being on a boat and by the ocean was the only place I really could disconnect and recharge.”

I wasn’t surprised that he finds boats so relaxing. In fact, lots of F1 drivers Including Ferrarri rival Charles Leclerc have boats for the very same reason. But he freedives to relax?! Turns out Mercades-AMG PETRONAS F1 team principal Toto Wolff introduced Russell to freediving in Monaco.
“Did Toto introduce you to freediving to increase your mental toughness?” I ask.

“No, not at all” he says. “He knows how important it is for me to disconnect. Freediving isn’t about being tough. It’s all about breathing and relaxing. We train to focus on breathing and relaxing. Really relaxing.

“I love that you can’t think about anything but your breath and being fully present when you freedive. And spending time underwater, especially without any scuba tanks is just so peaceful and beautiful.

“I like to dive to the bottom and just sit there and take in the surroundings. And the cool thing is, I push myself in every sport, except freediving. I don’t dive for mental toughness. I do it for mental health. I guess I could get competitive with it, but I don’t. The deepest I’ve gone 23 meters. That’s not a big deal for an experienced freediver. But for a novice like me, I'm happy with that.

“I didn’t even know that yachting was something you could do when I grew up. But now I know I'm always happy when I'm on the water.

It seems his 62-foot-long Pershing 6X is the perfect match for a Formula 1 driver that values relaxing and recharging at anchor in the Med. And pure performance and top end speed to get there.