It appears as though George Russell and Valtteri Bottas have finally closed the chapter regarding their Imola crash. With the Williams F1 driver having apologized to the Finn, Bottas wants to put the incident behind them. However, he revealed the duo haven’t spoken to each other face to face after the whole incident.

The Mercedes man said, “I heard about his post and apology and I read it. To be honest we haven’t spoken after the race, after the stewards. I did have a missed call on Monday morning, but I was still sleeping. But we haven’t spoken.

“But I’m sure it’s the same for George. It’s done and dusted, it’s history. There was no decision by the steward. George apologized and time to move on.”

Rusell, who recently clarified his apology, also insisted on putting them even in the past. Both drivers would want to now dedicate their focus solely to the next race in Portugal.

Considering he has already slipped up big time in the title race, Bottas would be especially keen to improve his performances.

Valtteri Bottas may have to be content with playing the team game for Mercedes

Not a whole lot of people are keen to label Bottas as a title candidate. And with him having slipped behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, it’s fair to assume Mercedes would prioritize Lewis getting a win over Bottas if it means their supremacy remains intact.

So, they’ll need Bottas to play his usual supporting role to destabilize Max’s race and get on the podium whilst Lewis can power on ahead. That’s where Verstappen would need Sergio Perez to help him out.

Just as important as the fight between Lewis and Max is, the battle between Bottas and Perez is something to keep an eye out for as well. They may not go head to head on the park too much, but their end results will determine which team wins the 2021 Constructor’s World Championship.

So far, fans have witnessed two thrilling races which have set the tone for the season ahead. Will the Portuguese Grand Prix carry on the torch?

Read More: George Russell Confesses to One Regret In ‘Heat of the Moment’ Imola Crash With Bottas