George Russell once produced the ‘biggest mistake’ of his career at Imola, he had ‘absolutely no excuses’

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George Russell had a 190mph crash with Valtteri Bottas in the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, coming a year after he made the ‘biggest mistake’ of his career at Imola.

The Briton endured two frustrating visits to Imola after the track re-joined the F1 calendar in 2020 when Formula 1 sought additional rounds for its Covid-disrupted campaign. F1 had not visited the iconic track in Italy since 2006 when Imola staged the last San Marino Grand Prix.

Russell was still racing for Williams in 2020 and 2021, before the Briton then replaced Bottas at Mercedes in 2022. Their collision in the 2021 running of the Emilia Romagna GP became a staple of the race’s story, as Russell and Bottas wrecked their respective cars on Lap 32/63.

Williams were set to see Russell’s redemption from his error in the previous season’s visit to Imola until he and the Finn tangled on the run to Tamburello. Russell and Bottas crashed out of the 2021 Emilia Romagna GP when the former dipped a wheel on the wet grass and spun.

George Russell made the ‘biggest mistake’ of his career crashing behind the safety car at Imola in 2020

Russell was trying to make amends for his mistake in the 2020 Emilia Romagna GP when the Briton crashed out fighting Bottas for ninth place during F1’s excursion to Imola in 2021. And while they could share some of the blame in 2021, it fell only on Russell’s shoulders in 2020.

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F1’s first pilgrimage to Imola for 14 years for the maiden Emilia Romagna GP in 2020 marked Russell’s 34th Grand Prix entry. He was also still yet to score any points as a Formula 1 driver, but had a chance to bring his Williams home in the top 10 as the race entered its final stage.

Red Bull racer Max Verstappen beaching his car in the gravel on Lap 51/63 whilst running in second place promoted Williams star Russell into 10th. But as the field toured Imola behind the safety car, Russell ruined his FW43 by crashing on the run to Aqua Minerali and was out.

Russell lost control of his car on cold, worn tyres and spun into the barriers. He also dubbed it the ‘biggest mistake’ of the Briton’s career given it was a rare chance to earn Williams one point. Russell did not score his first points for Williams until the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

“It’s definitely the biggest mistake I have ever made in my career,” Russell said after his race-ending crash for Williams in the 2020 Emilia Romagna GP at Imola, via quotes by RaceFans. “I was pushing like hell from the start to finish.

“Under the safety car, I was just giving it absolutely everything to keep the tyres in. Really trying to find the limit. There are absolutely no excuses. I hit a small bump as I changed gear, and I was already in the wall before I could save it. It’s just absolutely gutting.”

George Russell’s crash blew Williams’ chance to score their only point of 2020 at Imola

Russell’s crash all on his own behind the safety car in the 2020 Emilia Romagna GP at Imola cost Williams what could have been their only point all year. The Grove squad failed to score a single point in the 17 Grands Prix in 2020 with Russell and then-teammate Nicholas Latifi.

READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties

The Briton had also only come close to scoring points twice before his first visit to Imola as an F1 driver. Russell finished the 2019 German Grand Prix in 11th place and just 1.417s off then-teammate Robert Kubica as the Polish driver scored Williams’ only point that season.

His other near-miss before crashing whilst 10th in the 2020 Emilia Romagna GP was at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello, when Russell was 2.421s outside of the points in 11th. He also came 12th in the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix when just 1.668s outside of the top 10.