Russell out to 'rectify' massive 2020 Imola blunder

George Russell will be a man on a mission next weekend at Imola, where the Williams driver is determined to "rectify" the mistake that cost him dearly in last year's Emilia Romagna GP.

Last November, upon the sport's return to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Russell was on the verge of scoring his first ever top-ten finish in F1 when cold tyres and a bout of brain fade caused him to crash at low speed behind the Safety Car.

The young Briton was hit hard at the time by the blunder which he called "a stupid mistake", and only a good result in next weekend's race will help him bury the bad memory.

"I made what is probably the biggest mistake of my career at Imola in 2020 when crashing under the Safety Car," he said ahead of F1's second round of racing.

"It’s a track where, if you make a mistake, you’re out. But that’s what racing should be about! I’ll look to try and rectify my mistake from last year with a good result this weekend."

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Despite the painful remembrance, Russell remains a big fan of Imola's scenic environment and challenging layout.

"Imola is a fantastic circuit," he added. "It’s very fast and you really need to be committed.

"It also has a lot of character that the newer tracks sometimes lack, and you feel that when you’re bouncing over the kerbs. I’m very happy that the track is back on the calendar this season."

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