Switchback

A switchback is an overtaking maneuver in motorsport where a driver takes the outside line through a corner to gain better exit speed, then cuts back inside to pass the leading car on corner exit.

When two racing drivers approach a corner, the car in front usually defends their position by taking the inside line, which is typically the shortest and fastest route through the turn. However, this defensive move can actually create an opportunity for the chasing driver to execute a switchback.

Instead of fighting for the inside position, the pursuing driver deliberately chooses the wider, outside line into the corner. While this seems like a disadvantage because it's a longer path, it actually sets up a strategic advantage for the corner exit. The driver on the inside must brake harder and navigate a tighter turning radius, which slows their acceleration when exiting the corner.

Meanwhile, the driver on the outside follows a smoother, more natural arc through the turn. This allows them to get back on the throttle earlier and carry more momentum out of the corner. As both cars exit, the outside driver has built up superior speed and can then "switch back" to the inside line, pulling alongside or ahead of the leading car to complete the overtaking move.

Switchbacks work best in slower corners like hairpins, where exit speed matters more than entry speed. These tight turns force the inside driver to slow down significantly, giving the outside driver more opportunity to maintain momentum through their wider line.

This technique requires excellent timing and the ability to predict how your opponent will defend their position. A driver attempting a switchback must commit to the outside line early enough to set up the move, while also ensuring they have enough track space to complete the maneuver safely.

Switchbacks are considered a clean and skillful way to overtake because they don't involve aggressive contact or forcing another driver off the racing line. Instead, they rely on understanding corner dynamics and using physics to your advantage. This makes them popular in all levels of motorsport, from go-kart racing to professional Formula 1.

New racing fans can often spot a switchback when they see a driver appear to give up position by going wide into a corner, only to surge past their opponent just a few seconds later on the exit. It's one of the more elegant overtaking moves in racing and demonstrates why motorsport is as much about strategy as it is about speed.