I have to disagree with you here. The cars can store and deploy energy. Often times the optimal strategy is to alternate storing and deploying energy on conse

I have to disagree with you here. The cars can store and deploy energy. Often times the optimal strategy is to alternate storing and deploying energy on consecutive laps. So there is a ton of skill involved in staying as close to the driver in front while on a "harvest" lap so that they can pass the driver on the next "deploy" lap. This is just one of the many, many ways that skill comes into play. For more detail, I suggest watching the "track guide" videos by former Champion Nico Rosberg. He basically does sim laps while commentating the details that separate a pole position run from a 4th place run.