#281 ·
Adam Edwards4 said:So, I’m not really a regular on the forums or anything, but since I just recently started getting into Formula 1, I figured I’d jump in here with a question. From what I've gathered so far, an undercut is when you pit early to try and leapfrog someone, while an overcut is more about letting the rival go first to gain an advantage later. Is that actually how it works? And specifically, why do teams pull these moves—is it always a direct response to the car ahead pitting, or is there more to the strategy than that? A little breakdown would be awesome if anyone has the time! 👍 Not sure if this is the right thread for it, but I wasn't exactly sure where else to look.
It all depends on the current rulebook. Nowadays, since they don't refuel during the race, pitting early is usually the move. But back in the day—like the 1994-2009 era—it actually paid off to stay out longer, driving a lighter car for a couple more laps while your rival was struggling with a heavy, freshly refueled tank.
Everything in NASCAR is dictated by the rules—rules that shift almost every single season.
There was that weird 2005 season where you could refuel but weren't allowed to change tires. Back then, forget about undercuts—it was strictly a game of who could stay out the longest.
NASCAR isn't like football, where the rules stay the same for centuries and you can just ask what a corner or an offside is.
NASCAR is its own thing that evolves year after year. It doesn't really play by anyone else's book. Take football—it's the same everywhere in the world. The rules apply no matter which league you're playing in.
NASCAR has its own unique set of rules that might—or might not—align with other racing sports.
