Max Verstappen hits out at Netflix producers over portrayal of him in new Drive To Survive series

Red Bull driver believes he has been made out to fit a narrative in the new fly-on-the-wall documentary

Max Verstappen has hit out at Netflix producers for the way he has been depicted in the new Drive To Survive series, with the Red Bull driver believing they have made him fit a pre-determined story line rather than show his true personality.

The 22-year-old is one of the stars of season two as Netflix followed the 2019 Formula One season, which proved to be his most successful campaign of his young career so far. The Dutchman took three victories on his way to taking third in the drivers’ championship, beating both Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner is known for his expletive outbursts inside the cockpit with his passion one of his strongest traits, but Verstappen believes that the Netflix series goes too far in showing a side of him that doesn’t really exist.

"The problem is they will always position you in a way they want,” Verstappen told Anas Bukhash as part of a video interview series with Red Bull.

“It’s a series, whatever you say they will try to make you look reckless or try to make you into whatever fits the story of the series. The series is all about excitement and it needs to be exciting, so they position you and whatever fits to the episode.

"You’re interviewed and they use the words also under different circumstances, so it never really fits.

"I never really liked that. I prefer to just have a one-on-one interview with the person who would like to know me."

Verstappen has been talked up as one of the likeliest challengers to reigning six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2020, with the new season set to get underway in under two weeks’ time in Australia.

Having clinched three race victories in 2019 – the most in a single season – Verstappen will hope to capitalise on a Red Bull that showed good pace at the two pre-season tests in Barcelona last month, though regardless of what the team offer him he is already regarded as one of the most naturally talented drivers on the grid thanks to a series of daring overtakes and successful duels.

Verstappen has also gained popularity for being one of the sport’s straight-talkers, particularly behind the wheel, but he feels that image has been manipulated somewhat to give him an arrogant side in the Netflix series.

"I like to be just myself. I speak when I need to speak, and if I don’t have anything to say then I won’t say anything,” Verstappen added. "I don’t think I show a lot of emotion. I’m just easy going, but I’m also very determined to win.

“I try to do everything for it because it's my life, it’s my passion. Sometimes it might seem arrogant or whatever, but I’m there to win.

“Everybody’s different, everybody works differently. But for me, that seems to work the best."