2021 Race 2 - Italy

[Nitrodaze]

The real pain was Bottas. Toto acknowledged that Bottas should have never been down in that position where he could be bothered by a Williams car.

Toto also said



My bet Toto has more respect for Russell for being "race driver" than for Bottas being a "sunday afternoon" driver.

The move would have been more respectable if he had completed it without an accident. A badly executed move do not deserve any respect. I am sure he would learn from this and do better next time. But this one shall stay in his mind for years to come. Bottas just seem like he has given up trying. At this rate, he would not justify his place in the 2nd Mercedes car.

But this accident has raised some doubt about Russell's promotion into a Mercedes seat. He has competition from Stoffel Vandoorne and Estaban Ocon for that seat. Ocon is doing just as good a job as he is doing at Williams. Hence, it is not a foregone conclusion that the seat is going to be his. Russell needs to spend the rest of the season winning back Toto and Mercedes' confidence in him.

There is driving fast and there is racecraft.