Undercut
언더컷
This strategy involves making a pit stop earlier than competitors to gain an advantage with the performance of fresh tires. The aim is to increase speed on the out lap to overtake competitors who complete their pit stops later.
🏆 Race Case Study
2019 Singapore GP — Sebastian Vettel's Clinical Undercut Victory
Running in P2, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel pitted one lap earlier (Lap 20) than race leader Charles Leclerc for fresh Hard tires. Delivering an explosive out-lap delta, Vettel successfully jumped ahead of Leclerc as the latter exited the pit lane on the subsequent lap, converting the track position into victory.
📺 Race Context & Viewing Tips
Frequently asked questions
Why can an undercut favour the driver who pits first?
Fresh tyres generally provide more grip than worn tyres and can produce faster lap times. If the driver who pits first uses that grip to set a quick lap, they may gain enough time to emerge ahead when the rival pits later.
Does an undercut always work?
No. Its effectiveness depends on tyre warm-up, the performance difference between old and new tyres, pit-stop time, traffic and track conditions. An undercut can fail if the new tyres take too long to work or the driver gets stuck in traffic after leaving the pits.
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