Red Bull team member lashes out at 'bullshit' Max Verstappen claims

Max Verstappen's portrayal in the media has been described as "bullshit", according to Red Bull tyre technician Greg Reeson.

The member of the Milton Keynes-based team expressed how "livid" it makes him to read negative coverage of the four-time F1 drivers' champion in the press.

Having proven to be a divisive figure in the championship since debuting in 2015, the Dutchman has seen that polarisation reach new heights in recent weeks after his controversial clash with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.

That incident has left the 27-year-old on the cusp of a one-race suspension after accumulating 11 of 12 allowed penalty points on his FIA super licence.

It also led to some unfavourable comments about Verstappen from the media and fans alike, which has seemingly infuriated Reeson, who took aim at what he perceives to be untruths about the Red Bull driver.

"Verstappen is very different from what is often portrayed in the media," Reeson told Dutch publication De Limburger.

"It still makes me livid after all these years when I once again read all the bullshit about him in the media. Things are said and written that just aren't true.

"Fortunately, Max is a grown man and can easily put those things aside. I still struggle with that. I so wish people would get to know the real Max Verstappen for once."

When asked what the real Verstappen is like, Reeson zeroed in on how sincere the 65-time grand prix winner is outside of his RB21.

"Max is phenomenal," he said. "A killer in the car, but outside, one of the nicest people I know. In the garage he's just one of the guys. Always up for a chat. Sincerely interested too."

Following the crash with Russell at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and his subsequent 10-second time penalty, Verstappen finds himself 49 points adrift of Oscar Piastri in the drivers' standings.

Red Bull is now fourth in the constructors' fight, but Reeson does not believe it is time to throw in the towel for one specific reason.

"We have something the rest don't have: Max Verstappen, the best Formula 1 driver," he argued. "You can never count him out."