Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I think Russell.
Bottas did move across, but it was minimal and there was a good bitnof space remaining - he he wasn't being reckless. Russell misread what was going ro happen next, thinking Bottas was going to keep closing and moved over in anticipation of a continuing move that never came. Bottas is generally a clean racer and backed off, but by then Russell was on the grass and that was that. Watching it in slo mo shows there was always well over a cars width available up the inside, perhaps as much as a metre or more than a cars width, so the idea Russell was promulgating that he was squeezed off the track is laughable.
Remember as well that the business with defending mid overtake is gentlemans agreement, and not FIA sporting regulations. Even then, Bottas didn't aggressively defend by forcing anyone off - that was Russells own doing.
Also Russell's subsequent behaviour was ungentlemanly and reprehensible. Bottas was winded and battered, but for all Russell knew he could have been properly hurt and all Russell could do is gob off. No one expects another driver to start performing lifemsaving surgery, but in the event that Russell had stood there swearing at a severely injured or dying man then that would be the end of his career. That was neither the time nor the place.
Toto Wolff isn't happy with the whole thing and the subsequent expense for Mercedes when there is a cost cap in place - Wolff reckons the expense means the team will not be ablemto introducesome of their upgeades now necause that would put them over budget. Wolff, who manages both me, has described some of Russells post race comments on the matter as "bollocks". I suspect this incident alone won't keep Russell from a Mercedes contract next year, but another one like it, followed by more ungentlemanly and PR negative conduct, might well be enough to do his own legs.
They talk about their racing instincts and the drivers blood being up, but thats bollards - these guys are the masters of self control and discipline. Russell gobbed off because it was in his nature to do so, and because he wanted to, and for no other reason,
Bottas did move across, but it was minimal and there was a good bitnof space remaining - he he wasn't being reckless. Russell misread what was going ro happen next, thinking Bottas was going to keep closing and moved over in anticipation of a continuing move that never came. Bottas is generally a clean racer and backed off, but by then Russell was on the grass and that was that. Watching it in slo mo shows there was always well over a cars width available up the inside, perhaps as much as a metre or more than a cars width, so the idea Russell was promulgating that he was squeezed off the track is laughable.
Remember as well that the business with defending mid overtake is gentlemans agreement, and not FIA sporting regulations. Even then, Bottas didn't aggressively defend by forcing anyone off - that was Russells own doing.
Also Russell's subsequent behaviour was ungentlemanly and reprehensible. Bottas was winded and battered, but for all Russell knew he could have been properly hurt and all Russell could do is gob off. No one expects another driver to start performing lifemsaving surgery, but in the event that Russell had stood there swearing at a severely injured or dying man then that would be the end of his career. That was neither the time nor the place.
Toto Wolff isn't happy with the whole thing and the subsequent expense for Mercedes when there is a cost cap in place - Wolff reckons the expense means the team will not be ablemto introducesome of their upgeades now necause that would put them over budget. Wolff, who manages both me, has described some of Russells post race comments on the matter as "bollocks". I suspect this incident alone won't keep Russell from a Mercedes contract next year, but another one like it, followed by more ungentlemanly and PR negative conduct, might well be enough to do his own legs.
They talk about their racing instincts and the drivers blood being up, but thats bollards - these guys are the masters of self control and discipline. Russell gobbed off because it was in his nature to do so, and because he wanted to, and for no other reason,
Last edited: