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

However, it was apparent from pre-season 𝔍testing that Mercedes would start the year on the backfoot.

Mercedes left t꧂he season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix as the fourth-fastest ♐team as they 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 timꦏes. 

“You drive around the track, the car can sometimes feel great, but the lap tꦺimes aren't representing the feeling and 𓆉vice versa. 

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

“So I think it 🃏was when we saw th♍at the lap times weren't translating into what we expected."

With Me🗹rce💎des slipping down the pecking order, Russell admitted the team immediately looked towards future upgrades.

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

"So it was literall🤡y straight after the very first te๊st in Bahrain. 

"We were already planning towards the changes that are being implemented, in Monaco and [i🐟n Spain]."