George Pickering

Valeter – York
Hometown: York

If you ever hear the faint hum of an engine followed by someone whispering “I could’ve taken that corner faster,” congratulations — you’ve located George, York’s resident Valeter and part-time Formula 1 driver (in his imagination, but still).

George’s guilty pleasure is spicy Shin ramen, which he eats with the intensity of a man preparing for a survival mission. It’s unclear whether he loves the flavour or just enjoys the mild danger of it. Either way, if it’s spicy enough to remove paint, George will probably eat it.

Now, unlike most people, who dream of a nice Audi or maybe a classic Mustang, George’s dream ride is… George Russell’s Mercedes AMG Formula 1 car. Yes. The F1 car. Nothing ambitious there. Just a casual £12 million piece of engineering that would probably disintegrate if he tried to take it through a McDonald’s drive-thru.

His secret talent? Go-karting.
Not normal go-karting — we’re talking “takes it far too seriously, leans into corners like he’s in Monaco, threatens to overtake children” levels of dedication. If karting had a national league, he’d be asking for sponsorships already.

Travel-wise, George has his heart set on Tokyo, presumably so he can eat better ramen, wander neon-lit streets, and attempt to drift a rental car until the police ask him politely to stop.

When he was younger, he wanted to be an astronaut, which tracks — he’s already halfway there with his love of speed, ramen-fuelled bravery, and a personality that definitely exists slightly outside Earth’s normal orbit.

His favourite artist is Yung Lean, because of course it is. George is essentially a walking Spotify playlist called “Main Character Energy.”

So whether he’s transforming a car into something you could film an advert with, daydreaming about F1 glory, or proving his karting dominance one corner at a time, George brings enthusiasm, speed, and just a hint of chaos to the York team.