Lando Norris scored his maiden F1 victory on Sunday for McLaren, the crew’s first because the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
The turnaround from the crew’s place final yr has been heralded, with developments permitting McLaren to leap forward of Aston Martin and Mercedes within the pecking order and, occasionally, problem Crimson Bull and Ferrari on the entrance.
Pointing to this as a supply of inspiration for Mercedes, Russell conceded that his crew must “make adjustments fast” with a purpose 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 gained. So it reveals what’s doable after 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 troublesome 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 Photos
Requested if the issues in Miami had been all the way down to tyres or one thing else, Russell mentioned: “I do not actually know, to be trustworthy. You recognize, on day we’re P5. On a foul day, we’re P8 and immediately [Sunday] was a foul day, and we completed P8.
“I believe we’ve got to simply accept that we’re the fourth-fastest crew for the time being. The lap instances do not lie. And the championship [standing] would not lie. That is the place we’re.
“And as I mentioned, we’re combating for the P5 to P8 area week in and week out now.”
The end result left Mercedes 80 factors behind McLaren within the constructors’ championship, however crew boss Toto Wolff additionally noticed positives in his rival’s victory.
“They’ve made such an enormous step since final summer time and so they gained truthful and sq. and that is with a Mercedes engine and that’s so vital for all of us to see that you would be able to make these steps in the event you’re bringing the precise upgrades and do the precise work, so I see solely positives,” mentioned Wolff.
Whereas its W15 automotive confirmed some indicators of progress earlier within the season, Wolff conceded it has been a “painful studying curve” for the crew.
“The automotive may be very robust in excessive pace, the trip is best though not on the extent of the opposite ones,” he mentioned.
“The automotive simply would not flip in low pace and you do not wish to have a automotive 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 launched a number of upgrades in Miami, together with a brand new flooring and edge wing association, in what Wolff labelled an “all in” effort from its design workplace.
Extra reporting by Mandy Curi.
