Verstappen was booed by some fans following his victory in Abu Dhabi at the weekend. Brundle senses a “villain” status but can’t understand why the Dutchman is viewed as one.

He added: “Max didn’t get everything right, for example when the drivers walked out to the grid for the traditional end-of-season group photograph there were some boos as he emerged, as we’ve heard at some other tracks too.

“Of course, he was feisty and a little wild as a teenager when first racing in F1, but he sorted that out and is mostly a model of calm out on track now, and as fair as anybody else when it comes to hard racing.

“I don’t understand why he’s still seen as the villain, but the fans will make up their own minds.”