Max is, in my opinion. the victim of his hype.
He arrived in a whirlwind of hype and maybe he believed it.
I think the reason for the mistakes is he's not getting it his own way this season. He has a team mate who's outperforming him and it doesn't compute. He can't handle it. Yet.
Red Bull have an apparent history of putting their eggs in one basket and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd but them in the one with a V on it. It wouldn't be the first time. I've certainly seen Ricciardo as the underdog at Red Bull since Verstappen arrived, through no fault of Ricciardo's.
But Max hasn't had the performances that the hype demands and, at the moment it's affecting him.
But very few truly great drivers had it easy on the way to the top, and times of adversity like this will make or break him.
Maybe this is the sternest test he will face. I seem to remember a certain 4 time world champion, firmly embedded as the team's favourite, having a torrid season with Ricciardo as a teammate.
If Max can find a way to overcome the situation he's in, the hype train will soon be back on track, and this time it'll be deserved.