F1 News
Bottas and Russell have 'laughed off' controversial Imola crash
After his deal with Sauber fell through, Valtteri Bottas had no option but to go back to his former team, Mercedes, which replaced him ahead of the 2022 season with the then up-and-coming George Russell, who struck the Finn following a rather controversial crash that involved the two at the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Can the pair work together after the heated incident?
Heated times indeed. By 2021, George Russell had been putting in very solid performances whilst at Williams for two years, having debuted for the Grove-based team in 2019, and Valtteri Bottas was under increasing pressure to retain his seat at Mercedes. During the race on Italian soil marred by changing conditions, the two drivers made contact which resulted in a big crash.
Can Bottas and Russell work together after their heated history?
For George Russell it was clear who was to blame since he jumped out of the car and immediatly sought Bottas, who was still in the stricken Mercedes car, and struck the Finn's helmet in anger. During the announcement of Mercedes' partnership with Adidas, Bottas weighed in on if he and Russell could actually work together following the incident.
"We can [work together]. We can laugh about our incident in Imola already so that’s good. So all good," said the Finn. On his part, Russell seems to think the same way as the man who is to replace him should the Brit not be able to fulfill his driving duties at any race during the 2025 season. "His experience is going to be massive. Having someone with so much simulator and racing knowledge, and who fully knows the team is going to be great."
"Obviously years ago we were perceived to not have a strong relationship, but we are both professionals and our relationship has grown, we often travel together and see each other at hotels or in the gym," concluded the Briton.
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