Bottas is not concerned with Russell: 'We're chasing points'

Valtteri Bottas has stressed that his recent fights with George Russell are nothing personal. The Finn only pays attention to the points and not to the driver he is racing against.

Bottas was replaced at Mercedes by Russell after 2021. Whereas Mercedes was still fighting for the title last season, in 2022 the team is fighting at the front of the midfield. As a result, Russell is increasingly encountering Bottas' Alfa Romeo on the track.

The two drivers have fought each other on several occasions, including in Imola and Miami. In 2021 the two gentlemen clashed on the Italian circuit, after which the encounter was not very friendly. Bottas received a slap on his helmet from Russell, who in response received a middle finger from the Finn.

According to Bottas, however, it is not about a personal battle against Russell. "We’re chasing points. We are just really trying to maximise every opportunity. The target was more points rather than a person," he is quoted on Express.

Bottas has so far only missed out on points in Saudi Arabia, where he crashed out due to reliability issues. The Alfa Romeo driver is currently in eighth place in the drivers' championship, not far behind Lewis Hamilton.