Hamilton, Grosjean and other F1 racers rush to console Russell after Imola mistake

George Russell was left red-faced at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after spinning his Williams into the wall – while lapping behind the Safety Car. But with Russell beating himself up about his “stupid mistake” after the race, F1 racers past and present – including Imola race winner Lewis Hamilton – rushed to support the Williams racer on social media.

Russell – who was spotted sitting on the grass by the side of the track in the aftermath of the accident angrily shaking his head – took to Instagram following the Imola race to make his excuses, writing: “I’ll never forget this day, this mistake. I’ll learn from it, be stronger for it. I’m so sorry to the whole team. No excuses.”

READ MORE: ‘Gutted’ Russell rues ‘stupid mistake’ after crash behind Safety Car costs him first F1 point

But his post received a wave of support from other F1 racers, not least Hamilton, who wrote: “George, you were giving it your all. It’s ok to make mistakes and it’s ok to feel the pain. I’ve made more than I can remember. You’re great bud. Keep your head up and keep pushing, on to the next one!”

Haas’ Romain Grosjean also knows the pain of making a mistake under the Safety Car, having infamously spun into the wall during the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix while the race was neutralised. And the Frenchman reassured Russell, writing: “Man, I know the feeling. Will take some time to forget it, but what you do is mega. Keep pushing.”

WATCH: George Russell apologizes to Williams team for 'stupid mistake' at Imola GP

Russell was also backed by a pair of former Williams racers in David Coulthard and Mark Webber. Coulthard - who once crashed out of the lead of a race in the pit entry - called the mistake a “small blip in a long career ahead of you in F1. Don’t worry about [it] and keep showing us what you’re made of”. Webber, meanwhile, wrote: “Brutal yes mate, though you’ll be better for it. All part of the polishing and continuing to lift the bar.”

Russell’s pain even reached as far former pro skater turned rallycross racer Bucky Lasek, who wrote in support of the Briton, saying: “We’ve all been there in one way or another, lesson learned – too many turns ahead to worry about.”