McLa🐭ren are not “championship-toughened”, says Damon Hill, after their F1 title hopes dwindled꧋ in Brazil.

Re𝓀d Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Sao Paulo Grand🐼 Prix from 17th on the grid, brilliantly taking advantage of wet conditions.

He is now 62 points clear of Lando Norris with just threeꦕ rounds remaining.

The to𝓰psy-turvy ra❀ce in Sao Paulo appeared like it might veer Norris’ way, at one early stage.

“What a difference it could’ve been if it was the other way around,” ex-F1 ch🧸ampion Hill told Sky Sp𒆙orts.

“At one point, Max was the guy who was stuck 11 or 10 seconds behi☂nd the leader, and Lando🃏 had points in the bag.

“It was alw🍌ays g🦹oing to be a critical race, this. An opportunity that probably won’t come around again.

“He is obviously dejected.”

Norris’ race in Brazil was blighteඣd b🅷y an aborted start, for which he was reprimanded and fined.

But Hill noticed𒀰: “I don’t think he got🉐 his second restart right.

“He gave an oppor🐽tunity to🗹 Charles Leclerc. And that really did not help.”

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

“Whether it comes from the drivers o🍷r the pit board, collectively they haven’t been able to cross their i’s and dot thei🔯r t’s.

“Lando is 🦂a great driver but he’s up against the best in the world.

“Max barely ever makes mistakes, Red Bull as well. It’s a t😼ough challenge.

“Lando, at the start, left the door ope🅠n. 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 defence, theꦿy don’t want to make a mistake. But it’s costing them, in the end.”

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

“That’s what you need to be.

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

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

McLaren൲ still lead🎃 the constructors’ championship, ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull.