Wolff dismisses Russell’s “bull***t” excuse for Bottas crash

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has dismissed George Russell's accusations of foul play from Valtteri Bottas as "bull***t" following the pair's collision in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

In drying conditions at Imola, Williams driver Russell attempted a pass on Bottas on the straight approaching the Tamburello chicane, only for the pair to crash into one another at 295kph.

Russell later asked of Bottas whether he had tried to kill them both, and given that both drivers are fighting for a seat with Mercedes for 2022, the Briton also declared that "perhaps if it was another driver, he wouldn't have done that".

Upon hearing the comments, Wolff retorted: “That’s bullshit.

"The whole situation is absolutely not amusing for us to be honest. It is quite a big shunt. Our car is a write-off and in a cost cap environment that is certainly not what we needed and is probably going to limit upgrades for what we are able to do.

“Simply, it was losing it on the wet and making those cars crash out is not what I expect to see.”

Despite his dismissal of Russell's explanation, Wolff refused to place the blame wholly on either driver, despite claiming the Williams driver has "lots to learn".

He added: “There is never such a situation in life where one is 100 per cent to blame and the other zero.

"The whole situation should have never happened. Valtteri had a bad first 30 laps and shouldn’t have been there but George should have never launched into this manoeuvre considering that the track was drying up.

“It meant taking risks and the other car is a Mercedes in front of him and in any driver's development, for a young driver you must never lose this global perspective."

The stewards have since declared neither driver at fault, and that it was a racing incident.

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