7:07 Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff takes protégé George Russell into protection after the Williams driver crashed in a very clumsy manner during the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna.
Russell had an excellent opportunity on Sunday to score points for the first time in his Formula 1 career. At Imola he was in tenth position after Max Verstappen’s withdrawal, but behind the safety car, the Briton made a painful mistake: he crashed between Piratella and Acque Minerali and therefore retired. The chance of points was gone and Russell realized that himself, as he stared for minutes after the crash while sitting in the grass. The driver from the Mercedes training program received support after the race from Mercedes boss Wolff, among others. He states that former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg and current driver duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have also made similar mistakes in the past and that they have learned from them.
“It’s all part of the development process. What makes Lewis and Valtteri, and previously Nico, so special was the experience they had. I think it could happen to anyone that they put a car in the wall behind the safety car. We have seen that the most experienced drivers make mistakes under pressure, ”said Wolff. He expects Russell to learn from the mistake he made too. “What George has done has happened to the best. It feels terrible for him right now, but it is going to settle down and become a kind of scar. It will make him a better driver in the future.”
On Instagram, Russell once again made it clear on Sunday how much he is disappointed by the crash behind the safety car. In response, he received a statement of support from Romain Grosjean, who also crashed in Azerbaijan during a neutralization in 2018. “I know the feeling, man. It takes some time to forget, but you’re doing great. Keep pushing!” Hamilton, the winner on Imola, also typed encouraging words for Russell: “George, you gave it your all. It’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to feel the pain. I’ve made more than I can remember. You is doing great, buddy. Keep your head up and keep pushing! “
After the race, F1 race director Michael Masi was asked whether crashing behind the safety car could be seen as dangerous driving behavior. He pointed out that Russell was not speeding and also states that the Williams driver has been punished enough with his crash. “Unfortunately for George, it looked like it was a very small mistake. I think they were lining up behind the safety car, so I think it was just a mistake. And anyone who saw George on television knows that the I think emotions showed what it was. “
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