The overcut is a pit stop strategy where a driver stays out on track longer than a rival — pitting later — hoping to set fast lap times on their ageing tyres while the rival is in the pits and on their slower out lap. If the driver staying out can build enough of a gap, they emerge ahead when they eventually pit. The overcut works best when the driver on track can maintain strong lap times and the rival struggles to warm up their tyres quickly after the stop.
Example: He’s going to try the overcut — staying out while his rival pits and banking fast laps in the clean air.
The overcut is not the opposite of the undercut in a simple sense — both involve pit stop timing, but the overcut stays out longer while the undercut pits earlier. The goal in both cases is to come out ahead.
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