Formula 1 Managing Director Ross Brawn believes Valtteri Bottas left George Russell “nowhere to go” before their clash at Imola on Sunday.
Both drivers were eliminated from the race in the violent impact at Turn 2, with both men blaming each other for the collision.
Russell was attempting to overtake Bottas for ninth place on the road, but claims the Finnish driver changed his position on the run into the corner, which ultimately resulted in Russell losing control after he touched the grass.
Bottas affirmed that he always left enough space for a car on the outside line.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-120x86.webp)
A stewards’ investigation followed, but no punishment was handed out as they deemed the crash a racing incident.
Writing in post-race column, Brawn indicated that Bottas was more to blame for the accident as he left Russell with little room at the high speed section of the track.
“There will no doubt be an intense post-mortem of the accident between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell,” Brawn said.
“The positive thing is that both drivers escaped unhurt and the cars held up on impact to show how far we’ve come regarding the safety standards.
“Imola is quite a narrow track so there’s not much space. When you add wet grass either side from the rain, it becomes very, very tricky.
“I’m sure both drivers will analyse the incident and learn from it but it did look like Valtteri drifted across and left George nowhere to go.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff refused to pin blame on a single driver, but stated that Russell, who is managed by Mercedes, has “lots to learn”.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-350x250.webp)
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-360x180.webp)
I have great respect for Ross Brawn but he is increasingly making remarks, whether F1 or personal, which just do not match the facts.
The video clearly shows, despite movement by BOTH drivers, there was clear space between the cars before Russell finally moved right on the grass.
If there had been proximity or even a clash of tyres, then he would be right, but contact was after Russel lost control on the grass.
Russell was going so much faster than Bottas, who gave Russell no room and forced him into the grass. Had Russell slowed down instead of overtaking, he probably would have locked up and caused an even bigger crash, because he was going that much faster than Bottas.
Don’t know what video you watch but it clearly showed Bottas going to the right then quickly moving to the left because he didn’t know another driver was nearly beside him.
I don’t know why F1 bother to have stewards, who have access to all the on board data in addition to trackside cameras and observers’ reports. They determined it to be a racing incident, while TV watching experts decided it differently! However, they should have thrown the book at Russell for his “assault” on Bottas, no excuse, period – what a pathetic example to show the up and coming racers.