The gesture known as George Russell’s “T-Pose” was not created intentionally. According to the British Mercedes driver himself, it all happened by chance during a long photo session before the 2023 Formula 1 season, when fatigue turned an ordinary moment into a viral phenomenon on social media.
Read more F1: «There’s no point in getting frustrated,» says Krack about Aston Martin’s moment
The pose came to life after a session producer noticed the driver’s spontaneous position and found it interesting to capture. Russell was participating in the traditional F1 photo and filming days, used for producing the category’s opening vignettes, when the moment happened. Late at night, he was resting while waiting for new shots, leaning his hands on a wall and lowering his head.
“Ah, the infamous T-Pose,” said Russell, smiling, during a Q&A video with Mercedes. “Well, that was from the F1 opening I did in 2023. It wasn’t intentional at all. Actually, it was out of boredom and tiredness. It was around 11:30 PM. We were in this long photo session, and I just put my hands on the wall, waiting for the next photo, and the producer said, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ And before I knew it, the T-Pose was invented. So, I have to thank that guy — we need to find out who the director was that day.”
Read more F1: Rivals praise Verstappen after standout performance at Nürburgring
With the gesture’s growing popularity, Russell began incorporating it into moments of celebration as well. One of the most notable examples happened after his victory at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, when he repeated the T-Pose before leaving the Mercedes car.
Read more F1: Ralf Schumacher compares Russell to Bottas after Antonelli’s dominance
