David Coulthard plays down Max Verstappen Red Bull tension: 'He never holds back'

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has played down rumours of tension between Max Verstappen and Red Bull, insisting it is simply in the Dutchman's nature to "never hold back" when speaking to the media.

The four-time world champion was furious after spinning out of the British Grand Prix in the closing stages following a second rear wing failure.

While not identical to what happened in qualifying in Austria a week earlier, the RB22's rear wing again suffered a fault that caused Verstappen to spin at Stowe while looking set for a podium finish.

It triggered a furious response over the team radio from the 28-year-old, who shouted: "F**k this car!", before describing the issue as "super dangerous" when speaking to the media.

As a result of his frustration, rumours that he could leave Red Bull at the end of the season have intensified, with McLaren the team most frequently linked as a possible destination.

However, Coulthard believes it is all being blown out of proportion, insisting that Verstappen has always been brutally honest while ultimately maintaining strong relationships.

"Off the back of what was another challenging race for Max, which had been going well, whether he'd inherited P3 or not, the car has progressed," Coulthard told the Up to Speed podcast. 

"There's definitely been some movement there, but another failure saw him retire.

"Max never holds back when he's being interviewed. He said, 'This is unacceptable,' and all that sort of thing. I think a lot of people think, 'Oh my goodness, this means there's a massive fallout at Red Bull.' 

"But actually, if you look back at everything from when he was at Toro Rosso, which was Red Bull's junior team, Max has always spoken his mind. He's always said exactly what he's feeling at that time – his truth – and the relationship has continued thereafter."