F1 WhatsApp Group: Brutal Behind-The-Scenes Nature Revealed

McLaren driver Lando Norris and Mercedes' George Russell have revealed what goes on in the drivers' WhatsApp group.

If you're someone who's part of multiple WhatsApp groups, then you know how crazy it can get. From birthday wishes to endless memes, these groups can be a mixed bag of emotions. But have you ever wondered what happens inside the WhatsApp group of Formula 1 drivers? Well, wonder no more, because Lando Norris has given a sneak peek.

According to George Russell, the group admin, the conversations can sometimes get out of hand. He said whilst appearing on the Fast and the Curious podcast:

“There is a WhatsApp group. I mean it’s not like we’re sending banter in there day after day but there are occasions where something may have happened on track and suddenly people are sending memes in and whatever and it gets a bit out of control.”

However, in a recent podcast interview, Norris revealed that the group is more than just a place for banter. In fact, it's a platform for the drivers to discuss rules, regulations, and ways to improve their game.

While chatting with the Fast and the Curious podcast, Norris even spilled the beans on the group's profile picture. Apparently, the iconic James Hunt is the chosen one, and we're not surprised. After all, Hunt is a legend in the world of F1, and his spirit lives on in the WhatsApp group of the current drivers. Norris explained:

“James Hunt as the group photo.

“It’s true [the group exists]. It’s not so much like ‘hey, we’re all mates’. It’s a lot more for talking about things that can help us as drivers in terms of rules, regulations, it’s more like how can we represent ourselves?

“I don’t know how much [George] revealed, he’s the head of it.”

But, what kind of messages are exchanged in this exclusive group, you ask? Well, according to Norris, it's a mix of everything. From wishing each other a happy New Year's to discussing ideas that can help them as drivers, the conversations cover a wide range of topics. However, Norris did clarify that the group isn't a place for memes.

So, who uses the group the most? Norris says it's a bit of everyone, and the drivers work together to come up with different ideas. He continued:

“It’s a little bit of everyone.

“We are all kind of chatting and working together to come up with different ideas. We’ve got Esteban [Ocon], we got Zhou [Guanyu], we’ve got Alex [Albon]. Everyone chats in it [but] I can’t find any memes.”

But, don't be fooled by the group's friendly nature. It can be brutal at times, as Nikita Mazepin found out. According to the Russian driver, Russell removed him from the group on the same day his Haas sacking was confirmed. Ouch!