A stop trades track time for future pace.
Reviewed 18 October 2026 · General principles; example 2024
A pit stop costs time through slowing, the pit lane, stationary service and rejoining. A pit-lane transit measurement must not be presented as wheel-change time.
An undercut aims to gain time on fresh tyres before an opponent stops. An overcut keeps the car out longer. Either can fail because of traffic, warm-up, tyre behaviour or a neutralisation.
The useful comparison is the complete sequence of laps and the rejoin position, not a single impressive stop.