Lando Norris scored his maiden F1 victory on Sunday for McLaren, the group’s first for the reason that 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
The turnaround from the group’s place final 12 months has been heralded, with developments permitting McLaren to leap forward of Aston Martin and Mercedes within the pecking order and, once in a while, problem Crimson Bull and Ferrari on the entrance.
Pointing to this as a supply of inspiration for Mercedes, Russell conceded that his group must “make adjustments fast” with a view to get well from a disappointing begin to the season.
“McLaren certified P17 and P18 12 months in the past in Miami, and [on Sunday] they received. So it reveals what’s attainable once they get issues proper,” Russell mentioned after the race.
“However proper now we do not have issues proper.”
Mercedes, whose final win got here on the 2022 Brazilian GP due to Russell, endured one other tough weekend in Miami, failing to attain in Saturday’s dash after Lewis Hamilton was penalised for a pitlane infringement.
On Sunday, Hamilton completed down in sixth, whereas Russell needed to accept eighth place.
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Requested if the issues in Miami have been right down to tyres or one thing else, Russell mentioned: “I do not actually know, to be sincere. You already know, on day we’re P5. On a foul day, we’re P8 and right now [Sunday] was a foul day, and we completed P8.
“I feel we’ve to simply accept that we’re the fourth-fastest group in the meanwhile. The lap instances do not lie. And the championship would not lie. That is the place we’re.
“And as I mentioned, I feel we’re preventing for the P5 to P8 area week in and week out now.”
The outcome left Mercedes 80 factors behind McLaren within the constructors’ championship, however group boss Toto Wolff additionally noticed positives in his rival’s victory.
“They’ve made such a large step since final summer season and so they received truthful and sq. and that is with a Mercedes engine and that’s so vital for all of us to see you can make these steps should you’re bringing the precise upgrades and do the precise work, so I see solely positives,” mentioned Wolff.
Whereas its W15 automobile confirmed some indicators of progress earlier within the season, Wolff conceded it has been a “painful studying curve” for the group.
“The automobile may be very robust in excessive pace, the trip is best though not on the extent of the opposite ones,” he mentioned.
“The automobile simply would not flip in low pace and you do not need to have a automobile that’s both good in low pace or in excessive pace, you want the 2 of them and that is why they level us in a few of the proper instructions.
“It has been a painful studying curve and it is nonetheless not passable, however the state of affairs is extra encouraging now.”
Mercedes introduced several upgrades in Miami, together with a brand new ground and edge wing association, in what Wolff labelled an “all in” effort from its design workplace.
Extra reporting by Mandy Curi.