P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas tells Crash.net just how close he came to replacing the ill George Russell in Baku.
Valtteri Bottas almost raced for Mercedes at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to George Russell’s illness, with Bottas being on standby as the reserve driver.
Bottas was ready to step in until one hour before FP1, when Russell decided to race after all. Bottas shared his experience of being suddenly woken up and preparing to get in the car but ultimately not racing.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff mentioned it was touch and go whether Russell would race, praising his recovery and performance in the race, finishing in second place.
Bottas admitted feeling initially paranoid about the possibility of substituting for a driver but is now more relaxed and ready if the situation arises.
As the season progresses, Bottas understands the likelihood of racing decreases, acknowledging the challenge of jumping in last-minute when drivers are fully adjusted to their cars.
