As someone who's been to a couple of races these past few years, Lewis is by far the best at fan interactions during the interviews on the stage - he always directly addresses the fans, often does things like recognizing how many showed up and how they waited, and if you stood for around three hours in the sun it makes you feel super appreciated/seen in the moment, because he has such an earnesty to it, even if he does it all the time and it is such a simple thing to say. He often keeps looking around, waving. He's extremely "alert" and attentive in the moment, very much there. Still, he does it in a way that is kind of tranquil (I don't know if this is the right word, English isn't my first language 😅), people often go really still when he speaks too, I feel, because of that. And he comes on there like it is nothing, it makes him feel a bit different from everyone else, how easily he is just there, and the steadiness of the air around him, it's hard to phrase what it is. But either was, he makes the crowd feel quite seen and often talks turned towards the fans. Of course I'm generalizing, but yeah. And I say all this because George in my opinion/experience has picked this up from Lewis a lot, although he doesn't have the tranquility, he is more quippy and "active" in his energy, more like the other guys, but he also makes fans feel seen. A lot of "you guys" and "these guys", he always seems to look for a laugh in the crowd, I feel, enjoying his time up there and giving the fans a good time. Their energies are a bit different in that, I think George almost looks to entertain/is more animated, but it always makes him really affable and outgoing, maybe more outgoing than he actually is. But out of all the drivers who aren't Lewis I would say that George interacts the most, probably? I'm also a bit biased, but I think this isn't just bias, and I also think he's developed that "skill", and gained confidence. Sometimes I see a bit of Lewis in how he addresses the crowd, although the air around him and how he does it is still different, it is hard to explain, but he makes the same kind of effort. I think it's really interesting and lovely. Of course the main thing you pick up from your teammate is what he does in the car and with the set up, but I think George also gained much confidence with fans. (Which especially for Mercedes is a big part. Maybe after Ferrari it's probably Mercedes with the most team-related fanbase).
George has said before that the biggest thing he learned from Lewis was how to act with his team and off the track. Yes he learned so much from Lewis ON track, he's credited poles and wins to watching his past laps-- but away from the track is the thing he needed to pick up most. I'm glad thats coming across to the people who get to see it in person
