'Authentic' Max Verstappen praised for 'unmasking' tough question

Max Verstappen's "authenticity" has been praised after a run-in with a Sky Sports F1 reporter at the Canadian Grand Prix. In Canada, Verstappen had a frosty interview with Sky's Ted Kravitz, after Kravitz tried to question Verstappen about the new sporting director, Stephen Knowles and his role in telling Verstappen to cede position to George Russell after their Turn 1 clash in Spain.  It later transpired that Verstappen did not need to give the place back, as he was slapped with three penalty points for the Turn 5 collision, taking him to the cusp of a race ban. Verstappen refused to engage with the question, asking why Knowles was being singled out as an individual, as Sky Germany reporter Peter Hardenacke spoke about Verstappen's authentic behaviour.  "I had a brief conversation with Ted Kravitz at media day in Canada," Hardenacke told Sky Germany's Backstage Boxengasse podcast.  "I think [English] media are sometimes very harsh and direct in their questions. "Max unmasked him: 'What do you want now? Do you want me to blame one man? Because I don't. We work differently on this team.'  "I really appreciate that about Max, he is so clear and keeps eye contact all the time. I think that's what makes him so unique. If you talk about authenticity, he is one of the most authentic people in the paddock."