'I always keep up to date with Bayern!' - F1 star George Russell lifts lid on friendship with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham as he admits he is 'desperate' for striker to win Bundesliga and has invited Real Madrid star to a race

Russell first caught the world’s attention in 2020 during the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he delivered a standout performance as a substitute for Lewis Hamilton. Since then, he has cemented his place as one of the most prominent faces in Formula One. Yet, despite his rise to global stardom on the racing circuit, the 27-year-old has never strayed far from his football roots.

The Mercedes driver, while making waves on the racetrack, maintains a strong passion for football, and his growing connections within the sport have only deepened that bond. Among the most notable of Russell’s football friendships are his links with Bellingham and Kane. Earlier this year, Bellingham gifted the Mercedes driver a Real Madrid jersey customized with “George 63” - a nod to Russell’s race number.

Speaking on their bond, Russell, in an interview with The Sun, said: "I’ve met Harry, I did some work with one of his charities. I always keep up to date with the Bayern Munich scores and his personal stats — and I’m desperate for them to win the league. Me and Bellingham started to get to know each other recently. He’s a great guy, we have an ­adidas connection and I’ve promised to get him to a race this year.”

Bayern are set to face their biggest domestic rivals, Borussia Dortmund, in a high-stakes clash this weekend. Beyond the league, they face another stern test midweek in the Champions League, with a trip to San Siro to face Inter Milan. The Bavarians trail 2-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final showdown.

Meanwhile, Bellingham’s schedule is equally packed. The England midfielder will be in action for Real Madrid on Sunday against Alavés in La Liga before turning his focus to a daunting Champions League challenge. Carlo Ancelotti’s side welcomes Arsenal to the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday in the return leg of their quarter-final clash. After suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat in North London, Madrid faces an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals.