After a disappointing year by Mercedes’ high standards in 2022, taking j🍎ust one win, Mercedes went into 2023 with great🍃er optimism.

However, it was apparent from pre-season testing that Mer🍃cedes would start th🃏e year on the backfoot.

Mercedes left the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix as the fourth-fastest team as they were overtake🌸ܫn by customer’s Aston Martin.

Reflecting on🐠 the moment of realisation, Russell said: “I think the first time you realise is when you look at the lap times. 

“You drive around the tr♓ack, the car can﷽ sometimes feel great, but the lap times aren't representing the feeling and vice versa. 

“I'm sure there's, even for championship-winning cars, they may not💯 also feel perfect. We're just driving around at a slightly higher pace. 

“So I think it waꩵs when we saw that the lap times weren't translati🦄ng into what we expected."

With Mercedes slipping down the pecking order, Russell admitted the team immediately looked towardsꦛ future upgrades.

"Aston Martin cleaꦜrly made a big jump, and we hadn't made the jump that we werꦓe expecting and needed to make changes quick," he added.

"So it was literall💯y straight after the very first test in Bahrain. 

"We were already 🌊planning towards the c﷽hanges that are being implemented, in Monaco and [in Spain]."