Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen has become Formula One's most popular driver "worldwide".
Verstappen's popularity was clear to see at the Belgian Grand Prix, with swathes of Dutch fans making the trip across the border to see him race. The Dutchman has courted controversy since that race, getting into a spat with Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen over his driving at Spa and his subsequent refusal to accept blame.
Marko thinks the fans like the traits Verstappen has demonstrated in his short career so far.
"Probably we are lacking strong personalities lately," Marko told F1.com. "On top, there are drivers doing their last season, so they are complaining about Max, about safety, about anything.
"With Max, here is someone who is really young with a strong idea of what he wants - and he is not shy of trying to get it, of trying to be successful. And the reaction of the fans plays to his advantage. I would say he is probably now the most popular driver on the grid - worldwide."
The negative comments about Verstappen come in a season which has already seen Verstappen become F1's youngest race winner in Spain. He has also turned in memorable drives in Canada and Great Britain, where he pulled off an early candidate for overtake of the season on Nico Rosberg.
Marko thinks the recent criticism levelled at the driver he once compared to Ayrton Senna has been unjustified.
"Nothing is justified. Max is a different calibre. He has the traits of a future world champion and he is just doing what is necessary to get there.
"It obviously surprises some that this also involves overtaking and defending. If there had been something gravely wrong, the stewards would have penalised him."