Bottas had ‘good fun’ in Imola rematch with Russell

Valtteri Bottas said it was “good fun” as he harried Mercedes’ George Russell at Imola, going very close to snatching P4.

Bottas had started P7 but was a stand-out performer at the front of the midfield and could have been in the hunt for a podium finish but for an extremely slow pit-stop when Alfa Romeo were swapping him from intermediate tyres to slicks.

Mercedes getting to grips with issues

Red Bull adamant they're in the title fight

Red Bull solve Verstappen issue

Ferrari 'fear' Red Bull more than Mercedes

Hamilton confirms interest in Chelsea bid

Wolff explains Mercedes’ lack of significant upgrades

The Finn came back strongly though and in the closing stages was looking to snatch P4 from Russell, the driver who replaced him at Mercedes for the 2022 season.

It also rekindled memories of the high-speed collision between the duo at the same venue last season when Russell was in the Williams and which ended both drivers’ races.

He was not quite able to execute an overtake, but considering how his race had gone after a collision on the opening lap and then the poor stop, Bottas was happy.

Chequered flag!

Valtteri is P5 after a big battle with RUS! P15 for Zhou after a recovery from the back! #ImolaGP

— Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN (@alfaromeoorlen) April 24, 2022

“It was a good race, even with a bit of contact in Turn 2,” Bottas told reporters.

“Luckily there was no damage and the pit-stop for sure compromised the race a bit, but after that we had really good pace. I could push flat out all through the race and I was catching Mercedes pretty well.

“Unfortunately we didn’t quite have the pace towards the end to overtake them, but still good points.”

Bottas said it was “really good fun” to have that pace to fight Mercedes,