WATCH: Red flags fly at Imola as Bottas and Russell walk away from huge crash
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was red flagged amid dramatic circumstances on Sunday after a huge lap 32 crash involving Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Williams’ George Russell.
The duo were arguing over P8 as they approached the Turn 2 chicane at Tamburello at full speed when Russell lost control as he moved alongside Bottas. The Williams speared into the side of the Mercedes, sending both drivers off the road and into the barriers at high speed.
Both drivers expressed their displeasure with the other as they made it clear they were physically ok over team radio, with Russell – a Mercedes junior driver – then walking over to speak to a clearly angry Bottas.
The Finn, appearing winded by the impact, then climbed out of his car before pausing to catch his breath behind the barriers.
The incident occurred just moments after Mercedes had seen Lewis Hamilton skitter over the gravel and into the barrier at Turn 7, while lapping Russell’s car. The world champion – who had been chasing race leader Max Verstappen – was able to escape with a broken front wing, before starting the re-started race down in P9.
Russell's accident compounded a terrible day for Williams, who'd already lost Nicholas Latifi to a big accident early on.
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