With only three races left on the calendar, McLaren is under immense pressure. The British racing team secured the lead in the constructors’ championship in the second half of the season – thanks to a dominant car and two formidable drivers, the first title since 1998 was in sight. However, both Ferrari and Red Bull have shown that they too are contenders for the championship. Damon Hill believes that McLaren has ‘messed up’ a few things in recent months.
During the last Grand Prix in São Paulo, Max Verstappen dealt a significant blow to rival Lando Norris. After a brilliant performance on the rain-soaked Interlagos, the Dutchman went home with the maximum number of points. Meanwhile, Norris had to settle for sixth place. In a conversation with Sky Sports, former champion Damon Hill explained that McLaren, which has a thirty-six point lead over Ferrari, has ‘not gotten stronger’ in the past few weeks. At the same time, he sees a ‘downcast’ Lando Norris heading for second place.
“What a difference it could have been if the roles were reversed,” Hill commented on the race in Brazil. “At the start, Max Verstappen was ten or eleven seconds behind the leaders. Norris had all the points in his pocket.” The roles would soon reverse; Verstappen made a pit stop at crucial moments and drove flawlessly on the rain-soaked asphalt.
‘McLaren Made Too Many Mistakes’
“It would always have been a critical race,” Hill continued. “But Norris will never get this chance again. He is clearly downcast about it.” At the same time, Hill emphasized that the Englishman was defeated due to his own actions. “It went wrong at the restart,” he noted. “Norris gave Charles Leclerc too much space.” With his victory in São Paulo, Max Verstappen extended his lead to sixty-two points. Therefore, it is highly likely that he will be crowned champion for the fourth time. The constructors’ race seems to be more exciting, with all three top teams still in contention.
According to Hill, McLaren will struggle to claim the title. “They are not tough enough, not bulletproof,” he explained. “There have already been moments this season when they messed up. That’s why I think they will come back stronger next year. To win the title, you simply cannot afford to make mistakes. The competition is too fierce and ruthless.”
