Max Verstappen accused of being 'a nuisance' with repeat tactic for last three races

Max Verstappen is proving to be an "absolute nuisance" to his F1 rivals with Jolyon Palmer noticing a certain tactic the Dutchman has adopted in the last three races. Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were once again embroiled in a fascinating battle at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend.

Verstappen ultimately came out on top after Leclerc tried to hold his lead in the final few laps. A virtual safety car with just a few laps remaining saw Verstappen given the chance to close right up to Leclerc on the track.

And the reigning F1 world champion was almost running alongside the race leader heading into the final corner with the virtual safety car period ending. Leclerc was able to beat Verstappen off the line to race into the distance, but Palmer has noticed that the Red Bull driver is making a habit of pushing the boundaries under the Safety Car period.

Drivers are normally required to follow one another during a Safety Car period with no overtaking allowed. But Palmer believes Verstappen has found a "grey area" in the rules which has seen him run up alongside the race leader in each of the last three races with a Safety Car period ending.

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It didn't work out well for him in Bahrain while Lewis Hamilton also held off the Dutchman initially in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Palmer does note that "none of the drivers are complaining about it" but he does believe the Red Bull star is proving to be a "nuisance" at the very least.

"It's not the first time Max has done this. He's now done it three races in a row," Palmer said on F1 TV. "Charles Leclerc can dictate the pace and basically dictate when the race restarts and Max just gets alongside