Wolff and Bottas both say Imola crash was Russell's fault
Apr.19 - Toto Wolff and Valtteri Bottas were united late on Sunday in the wake of the Finnish driver's huge crash with Mercedes junior George Russell at Imola.
Russell, who races for Williams, was livid at Bottas after their high-speed shunt, slapping the Mercedes driver's helmet and berating him before the Finn had emerged from the wreck.
"Perhaps if I was another driver, he wouldn't have done that," said Russell, alluding to rumours that he is in pole position for Bottas' seat in 2022.
Bottas told Ilta Sanomat newspaper: "I didn't hear a word he said but I could tell it was nothing positive.
"When I didn't hear anything, I tried to communicate with my finger," he added.
Bottas claimed the incident was "completely" Russell's fault, and his team boss Wolff agreed that the replays "show a tendency towards wrongdoing by George".
Wolff also slammed Russell's suggestion that Bottas had been dangerously aggressive because he fears losing his Mercedes seat to the British driver.
"That's bullsh*t," Wolff said, while Bottas answered to the same question: "Unfortunately I left my tin-foil hat at home".
Wolff continued: "I have to talk to George again. I accept that there is a learning curve, but for that there has to be insight.
"He might need to think about it for a few days."
However, Wolff also didn't let Bottas off the hook, insisting Lewis Hamilton's teammate "shouldn't have been there" in the fight for minor points after a poor weekend.
But he also hit back at the notion that either driver has something to 'prove' as they theoretically tussle for the plum 2022 seat.
"I don't want him (Russell) to prove anything to us," the Mercedes team boss said. "And Valtteri has been with us for five years and is not trying to prove anything."
Wolff admitted that Bottas' confidence is currently "not at the very highest level", but said it is up to the team to help him with that.
"We need him. We need him in the fight for the constructors' championship. Sergio Perez will get going at some point, I'm convinced of that."
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Valtterie had been been driving like and old woman the whole race. It must have been obvious to him that George was coming through, and he should have given him the space to safely finish the move.
Bottas was saved, saved from the embarrassment of coming 10th, overtaken by a Williams and being lapped. How him Vettel, Raikenon, Mazepin, Latiffi etc get a drive I'll never know.
The crash was not Valtteri's fault. There was enough room for Russell to pass. Track conditions sucked. Bottas had a bad day. He makes podium more often than not. He is a solid team player who has endured bad luck, including a botched tire change. Through it all he behaved like a true gentleman. FYI, learn to spell Raikkonen correctly.
Never said it was so please read it properly. Like I said it saved him from the shame of finishing so far down the field in a top car.
Dumb cant be taught
If you don't understand why VET, RAI and BOT deserve their seats you need to remove the "f1" from your moniker.
When Vet and Bot lose their seats at the end of the year will you lose your computer and save us all.
Yes, it's a promise, what is your offer in return?
I'll say Bottas is brilliant and deserved his drive over the years.
The crash was not Valtteri's fault. There was enough room for Russell to pass. Track conditions sucked. Bottas had a bad day. He makes podium more often than not. He is a solid team player who has endured bad luck, including a botched tire change. Through it all he behaved like a true gentleman. FYI, learn to spell Raikkonen correctly.
True gentleman, he gave GR the finger or did you miss that. Bad day, and bad qualifying, Bahrain was not that good either. Will lose his seat at the end of the year and he looks like he's lost interest in this season too.
Boy was bottas lucky to crash, no embarrassment by finishing 10th, being lapped by your team mate recovering from a crash, being over taken by a Williams etc
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