McLaren are not “championship-toughened”, says Damon Hill, after their F1 t♋itle⭕ hopes dwindled in Brazil.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from 17th on the grid, brillia🙈ntly ⭕taking advantage of wet conditions.

He is now 62 points clear of Lando Norris with just thre♓e rounds re🐻maining.

Th🌳e topsy-turvy race in Sao Paulo appeared like it might veer Norris’ way, at one early stage.

“What 🃏a differe𝓀nce it could’ve been if it was the other way around,” ex-F1 champion Hill told Sky Sports.

“At one point, Max was the guy who was stuck 11 or 10 seconds behind the leader, and 🙈Lando had points in the bag.

“It was always going to be a criticalꦇ race, this. An opportunity that probably won’t come around again.

“He is obviously dejected.”

Norris’ race in Brazil was blighted by an aborted🌠 start, for which he was reprimanded and fined.

But Hill noticed: “ღI don’t think he got his second r𝓀estart right.

“H🍸e gave an opportunity to Charle🥀s Leclerc. And that really did not help.”

Naomi ꦯSchiff added: “It just feels like they’ve left points on the table. It isn’t the first time this season that they’ve𒀰 done that.

“Whether it com🃏es from the drivers or the pit boa💎rd, collectively they haven’t been able to cross their i’s and dot their t’s.

“Lando is a great driver but he’s up ag♍ainst the best in the world🤪.

“Max barely ever makes mistaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚkes, Red Bull as well. It’s a tough challeꦛnge.

“Lando, at ജthe start, left the door open. I don’t know if it’s because he was being cautious.

“They were a bit safe with their decisions on the pit🥃 wall. I think that’s because they’re on the de♊fence, they don’t want to make a mistake. But it’s costing them, in the end.”

Hill replied: “They are not race-toughened, ဣnot championship-toughed, not bullet-proof.

“That’s what you need to be.

“There were other moments in thಌe season where they’ve fumbled it. They will g𝔉o away and think long and hard, and come back tougher.

“To win a championship you can’t afford to make any mistakes. The competition is too h💜o🧸t and too relentless.”

McLaren still lead the constructors’ championsh♏ip, ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull.