British Formula One driver George Russell expressed his dissatisfaction with the driver introductions at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.
Hip-hop artist LL Cool J was selected to hype up the crowd at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, announcing the names of the Formula One drivers as they entered their vehicles.
Accompanied by Will.I.AM’s new single “The Formula,” LL Cool J led the symphony as drivers walked out from the back towards the starting grid at Miami International Autodrome.
Russell expressed to the media that there were more productive ways to spend the half-hour prior to the start of the race.
“I guess it’s the ‘American way’ of doing things during sport,” the British driver said Sunday. “I am here to race. I’m not here for the show, I’m here to win.
“I don’t think there is any other sport in the world that 30 minutes before you go out to do your business, you are out there in the sun, all the cameras on you and making a bit of a show of it. I can appreciate that in the entertainment world.”
Russell, who also serves as the director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, expressed that his fellow racers are willing to consider modifications.
However, he emphasized that they do not want to see a repeat of the elaborate pre-race ceremony every weekend.
On Monday, F1 confirmed that drivers had expressed their reservations about the pre-race proceedings. The organization stated that it would continue to take the drivers’ feedback into account while planning future pre-race activities.
