Agree. Due to pace deficit, the only strategy was to 'wait for SC until impossble anymore'. Max removed the 20second gap in 10 laps. So, had the Mclarens followed the same tyre strategy as Max, we are looking at the 'race win gap' of something like T seconds, where T = (53-38) x [6/(22-4)] + 6 = 11 seconds. This is assuming that the pace deficit on H would be same as the pace deficit on M, that was cumulated as 6 second gap buildup from lap4 to lap22 (and then Max was just maintaining it there despite his tyres starting to go off until he pitted in lap38).
This 'hype' around 19 second win is unrealistic, but even a 11 second gap is a big deal, in 2025 where McL39 is head and shoulders above any other car.