"IT takes resilience to keep pursuing your passion," said George Russell during an exclusive sharing session attended by more than 200 university students.
The 25-year-old Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver also emphasised the significance of remembering your goals and staying focused on achieving them.
Russell's journey began with kart racing in 2006, which led him to become a multi-time champion throughout the years he was a professional participant.
This led him to other professional racing scenes, which included Formula Renault 2.0, BRDC Formula 4, FIA European Formula 3 Championship, GP3 Series, and the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
He experienced his first taste with a Formula One car in 2015. Subsequently, he performed simulation work for Mercedes in 2016 and was made part of the team's junior driver programme in early 2017.
From his appointment as one of the team's reserve drivers for the 2018 season, Russell would eventually participate in his full race drive in 2019.
The British racer would go on to claim his maiden victory, with Mercedes' first win for the season, at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil. In 2021, he was appointed as director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
"It's important to be ready to adapt to changing environments. This is true not just on the track where race conditions can change in a matter of minutes but also in everyday life," said the F1 racer as he shared his experiences and lessons with the students.
"I hope that I inspire the students here to continue to pursue their passion," he added.
Held at the Petronas Leadership Centre (New Campus) in Bangi, the "Success on the Fast Lane" event is part of Petronas Lubricants International's effort to inspire future leaders with real-world insights and experiences in the hope of creating future-ready graduates.
Selected students from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Taylor's University and Sunway University attended the session that provided exclusive insights into the life of the F1 driver, including how he copes in this high-pressure industry.
"Success on the Fast Lane" is an extension of a series that Petronas Lubricants International started in 2021, titled "Shaping Industry-ready Graduates".
The series came about as part of the effort by the company to prepare industry-ready graduates in the automotive vocation, particularly crucial for Malaysian students who had spent over a year learning virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The series in 2021 featured top professionals in the automotive field to equip the next generation of working professionals with industry insights. This time around was catered to students across industries.
Petronas Lubricants International managing director and group chief executive officer Hezlinn Fariss Idris said the ability to adapt and persevere in an ever-changing environment had moved beyond being a benefit to becoming a requirement in the modern world.
"We recognise the need for undergraduates to hear real-life experiences from people who have demonstrated grit, guts, and resilience to rise above the circumstances and to perform under pressure," she said, adding that she hoped the students would be further inspired, motivated, and encouraged to continue following their passions by this sharing session.
