Naomi Schiff points out mistake McLaren keep making after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

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McLaren are still in prime position to end their 16-year title drought, despite a disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Neither one of their cars managed to finish inside the top six, as Lando Norris waved goodbye to any hopes of a maiden drivers’ crown.

The Brit started on pole position but lost the lead before turn one to George Russell, and things continued to head in a negative direction after that.

A mid-race red flag scuppered any hopes of victory after McLaren decided to pit at what was a very bad time for them looking back.

Naomi Schiff calls out McLaren’s missed opportunities

Despite having the fastest car for the majority of the season, most get the feeling that McLaren should be in a better position by now.

They’ve failed to capitalise on situations like today, whether by poor man management, poor strategy or bad luck.

Speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Naomi Schiff pointed this out as something that the team have done continually in 2024.

READ MORE: Lando Norris says 125-race driver ‘deserved to win’ Sao Paulo Grand Prix instead of Max Verstappen

“It just feels like they’ve left some points on the table, it hasn’t been the first time this season they’ve done that.

“Whether that’s coming from the driver in the seat or the pit wall, it feels like collectively they haven’t been able to dot their i’s and cross their t’s completely as a whole this season.

“Lando is a great driver but he’s up against the best in the world. Max rarely makes mistakes and the team as well.”

What McLaren must do in the final three races

To ensure that they win the constructors’ championship, they have to avoid being outscored by Ferrari and Red Bull by a margin of 36 points.

They haven’t taken advantage of their car to a full extent this season, so doing that in the final three rounds will help them build momentum heading into 2025.

With it being the final year of the current technical regulations, it’s going to be an excellent opportunity for them to build on their recent progress.

READ MORE: Ted Kravitz questions key Mercedes decision after ‘real no-no’ at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Maybe Oscar Piastri can compete for a championship too – which would be a nice problem for them to have.

They don’t have to win out, but they’re going to want to make sure that they’re maximising their potential while they can and avoid the pain of missing any more opportunities.