After a 🤡disappointing year by Mercedes’ high standards in 2022, taking just one win, Mercedes went into 2023 with greater optimism.

However, it was apparent from pre-season testing that Mercedes would start the y🌊ear on the backfoot.

Mercedes left the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix as the fourth-fastest team as the💖y were overtaken 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 trac🧜k, 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.&nbsꦑp;

“So I think it waꦉs when we saw that the lap times weren't tr🐽anslating into what we expected."

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

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

"🌸So it was literally straight after the very first t🔯est in Bahrain. 

"We were already planning towa꧑rds the changes that are being implemented, in 🍌Monaco and [in Spain]."