Undercut vs overcut circuit characteristics

[tele_lover]

Could someone please explain what makes some circuits suitable for the over-cut and some the under-cut?

What exactly is it about the circuit which determines this?

[GlobalRacer]

Length of the lap and the track surface makes a difference but the biggest factor is how hot/cold it is and what the warm up characteristics of the tyres being used are.

[kalexan273]

Lots of variables... it can also depend on the distance entering the pit and then leaving. Plus you have the car when returning onto track having an open space without any other cars in front to stop them from putting in fast laps on fresh rubber.

I'm sure all the teams must have software running real-time that will tell them the estimated size of each at an given time. Or in Ferrari's case an excel spreadsheet full of macro's that's never been verified.

Edited by kalexan273 on Saturday 31st August 20:04

[PhilAsia]

Plus if you can scrub your tyres in optimally.
Plus if there is any chance of a VSC or SC.
Plus if the pits are on a section of track where there is a gain to be made by staying on track like Monza.
Plus if...etc...the U vs O has so many variables, plus the dynamic can change 180 degrees with one instance!

[EmailAddress]

kalexan273 said:

I'm sure all the teams must have software running real-time that will tell them the estimated size of each at an given time. Or in Ferrari's case an excel spreadsheet full of macro's that's never been verified.

They can't save it though, as they've never paid the subscription. Some poor lackey has to keep the laptop connected and charged day and night.

[Bona92]

A big factor is how much the tyres degrade at the given circuit. ‘Degradation’ just means how much slower a set gets each lap - it’s different to ‘wear’ which is how much rubber is physically remaining. If the deg is relatively high, then the pace delta between a new set and one at the end of its performance life is large, and that’s when you get a powerful undercut.
Deg is dependent mainly on the track surface, nature of the corners, how effectively the drivers can manage, track/ambient temperature. And of course which compounds are being run.

Edit: didn’t talk about Overcut. This requires a set of conditions to come together usually:
1. Lowish degradation
2. Car behind has significantly more performance, and is being held up by car ahead
3. Maybe car ahead chooses a different compound to you
4. Maybe car ahead has to box into traffic

Any combination of these factors can lead to an outlap/first couple of laps on new tyres actually being slower than the car behind continuing on old.

Edited by Bona92 on Friday 6th September 07:41