Max Verstappen’s clever exploitation of grey area in regulations has become more of a “habit” now: Joylon Palmer

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As seen many times before as well, when the safety car is ahead of the drivers, Max Verstappen is seen unusually close to the drivers in front of him, giving him a head start or a upper hand when the green flag is out. During the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was awfully close to the Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari but also did maintain minimal amount of gap which would not raise a cause for investigation.

Jolyon Palmer, British motorsport commentator and columnist pointed out Max Verstappen’s trick and thought that the Dutchman cleverly uses a grey area in the regulations, with Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas test and reserve driver who also seemed to observe this move has a feeling of it not being legal, which was discussed in the Formula One post-race show while they were talking about the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

“It’s an interesting tactic from Verstappen.” Added Jolyon Palmer, not happy by Max Verstappen who is cleverly trying to place himself next to the drivers ahead of him and it is a grey area as this way he does get in the way of the drivers in front of him.

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It’s a tactic he’s been using for a while: Palmer on Verstappen

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Last year, this time in Bahrain GP, Max Verstappen was seen pulling out the same stunts, “It’s a tactic he’s been using for a while, it’s kind of routine almost,” said Palmer highlighting this trick as more of a habit or a routine than a stunt now. The Dutchman began driving alongside Charles Leclerc, all the way to the final corner which prevented the Ferrari driver to cut properly at the corner.

The same stunt was pulled at the Abu Dhabi GP where instead at this time, Max tried to cut on the inside with Lewis Hamilton and he was even briefly caught up with Lewis, while the Stewarts were still looking into the matter.

Formula One has not officially looked into this matter yet but exploiting others space under the Safety car and using the grey area of the regulations is morally against the rules and regulations.

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