The undercut is a pit stop strategy where a team pits their driver earlier than a rival, fitting fresh tyres that are faster than the rival’s older rubber. If the driver on the fresh tyres can lap quickly enough while the rival is still on worn rubber, they may emerge ahead when the rival eventually pits. The undercut works because fresh tyres generate more grip and speed, and the time difference on track can outweigh the time lost in the pit stop itself. It is one of the most common strategic moves in modern F1.
Example: They’re going to try the undercut — they’re pitting him now to put pressure on the car ahead before it can react.
The undercut is not simply pitting early — it is pitting early specifically to use faster fresh tyres to jump a rival by gaining more time on track than is lost in the pit stop.
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