I should have handled Imola crash better, admits Russell
GEORGE RUSSELL apologised last night for the spectacular flare-up with Valtteri Bottas that led Mercedes to put him on the naughty step. The Williams driver tried to pass the Finn in Sunday’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, but lost traction on the wet grass and the two men spun off at 200mph on a meandering part of the narrow Imola track. Russell then tapped Bottas angrily on his crash helmet as he drew breath in the cockpit. The Briton believed Bottas deliberately caused the crash because he is a rival for a seat at the Silver Arrows next season — an accusation Mercedes boss Toto Wolff dismissed. ‘That is bull****,’ he said. ‘The whole situation is absolutely not amusing.
I will speak to George and make my point.’ Wolff’s rebuke may have proved a worthwhile reminder to Russell, a 23-year-old member of Mercedes’ junior programme, to keep his confidence in check. Russell said: ‘Yesterday was not my proudest day. Sometimes you take risks. It didn’t pay off and I take responsibility for that. I should have handled the whole situation better. ‘Emotions can run high and mine got the better of me. I apologise to Valtteri, my team, and anyone who felt let down by my actions. That is not who I am and I expect more from myself. I’ve learned some tough lessons this weekend and will come out of this a better driver and a better person.’ Wolff is angry that the cost of repairing Bottas’s machine could hurt his team’s championship prospects, with a new £105million budget limit in place for this season. However, Russell should remain the favourite to replace Bottas.