Russell and Bottas avoid FIA sanction over high-speed Imola crash

George Russell and Valtteri Bottas have avoided punishment by the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix stewards following their high-speed crash at Imola.

The duo collided on lap 32 as they fought over ninth place, with Bottas appearing to edge over to his right in his Mercedes as Williams' Russell drew alongside.

That forced the Briton's rght-front tyre to touch the grass, sending him spearing into the right-hand side of the Mercedes. The two destroyed cars then careered into the gravel area at Tamburello.

While both drivers blamed each other, with Russell questioning Bottas as to whether he tried to kill them both, the stewards have taken a lenient view.

A stewards' report read: "Car 63 approached car 77 to pass after the front straight a few laps after the restart when DRS had recently been enabled.

"Car 77 maintained his line throughout the incident along the right-hand side of the dry line, leaving at least a full car’s width to the right at all times.

"Car 63 approached with a significant speed advantage. He moved to pass on the right.

"As the cars approached the kink of turn one, the gap between them and the right-hand side of the track decreased. At no time did either car manoeuvre erratically.

"The track appeared to be not especially wet through turn one but at the point of closest approach to the right-hand side of the track, the right-hand side tyres of Car 63 hit an especially damp patch and the car snap yawed, bearing in mind that the car had low downforce in the rear with the DRS open.

"The stewards conclude that the accident was a racing incident considering the conditions and take no further action."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Red Bull reunion? How Christian Horner and Helmut Marko could reconnect after ex-F1 star lands new role

• 20 minutes ago

Aston Martin told Adrian Newey F1 move 'was never going to work'

• 1 hour ago

Mercedes reveal new PURPLE livery ahead of Miami Grand Prix

• 1 hour ago

EXCLUSIVE: Sebastian Vettel's shock school visit as staff reveal 'remarkable' behind the scenes moment

• 2 hours ago

Miami Grand Prix at risk of chaos after weather warning

• 3 hours ago

NASCAR race stopped after massive 26-car crash brings out red flag

• Today 16:58