Importance of GCSEs when applying to study Maths at Oxbridge, Imperial, Warwick, etc?

I'm currently in Year 12 but am aspiring to read Mathematics at either Oxbridge, Imperial, Warwick, Durham, etc. For A-Level I am taking Maths, Further Maths, Economics, and History, and am aiming to achieve at least A*A*A*A respectively.

However, due to a lack of effort during my earlier years led me to attain GCSEs below what I should've been achieving (was annoyingly the 'Covid year' as well so I ended up getting my exact Mock results instead of sitting the exams which was slightly frustrating), in which I 'achieved' 988887665.

I'd been scanning TSR to find out any more information on the importance held by Oxbridge and other top universities on applicants GCSE results, and it had been mentioned within certain forum pages that for Maths applicants, focus on GCSE results was quite light (less compared to other courses, and by this I don't just mean Medicine and Law) and instead heavy focus was put on the admissions exams instead; is this true? And if so, with these far below average Oxbridge GCSE results, would you say I'd still have at least some what of a chance against these other applicants, as long as I achieved either A*A*A*A / A*A*A*A* in Maths, Further Maths, Economics and History respectively?

One final thing, I know that Physics is by no means necessary when applying to an undergraduate Maths course, but I wouldn't be put at a disadvantage for not taking it would I? And I know that History holds no correlation to Maths, but that wouldn't mean that they would show no care towards my History A-Level would they, especially if it was an A*?

I am speaking for medicine here, but I think it would probably be similar to Maths - Oxbridge gets tens of thousands of applications every year, each of whom possess a stellar academic record. However, when it comes to the interview and personal statements etc, a lot will suffer, as they are no more than examinations robots, incapable of properly articulating themselves, or showing passion for the subject they want to study. Work on yourself as a person - essentially, be interesting, show a love for the subject you want to study, do well on the entrance exams, and you will stand a much better chance. Also, the 2020 cohort will be known as those who perhaps don’t have a true representation of their ability at GCSE - so, I would say that they will care about them even less. And to round it all off, your GCSE results are pretty decent, despite what you may think. So - overall, I wouldn’t worry about it.
As for the History - from experience, I can tell you that when applying for STEM, it can set you apart from the rest, showing that the breadth of your interests extends beyond other people.

Oxbridge applicants have no less than straight 9’s, it’s a bit too risky. I’m unsure whether they’d be lenient for your Year because of COVID, but I highly doubt it since a lot of people got straight 9’s this year

How sure are you on this statement? I seem to know otherwise...

How confident are you that you are going to achieve 4 A*’s?

What you want a percentage? Hmm I'll have to think about that one.

I mean it does say eight 8/9’s is the “standard” and you have only 6... you might be lucky

It isn’t as easy as you think

You do know GCSE results are taken into the context of your school you attended right? I think a person who attends a 'low-end' public school who achieves 4A* at GCSE and places first in their year based off of APS would stand out a little more than someone who goes to a private school who gets 8A*, but places 30th in their year because they're a pretty average student when compared to their peers, do you not agree?

Your GCSEs are good enough. Ignore the person who said you'd need to be lucky without straight 8/9. What's more important is that you prepare for MAT over the summer and don't drop the ball from the start of year 12. You will need A*, A* in both maths subjects. A grade in the other two will be fine. Applying with anything but A*s will be the suicide, not your GCSEs. Build your personal statement! Time goes fast, and you can't afford to slack especially with COVID, exams may get canceled and you will never get the chance to actually perform. So your work now needs to indicate A*. Like the person above said...this isn't so easy. AND PREPARE FOR THE MAT OVER SUMMER, DON'T BE ME AND PREPARE 3 WEEKS BEFORE!

Yes I understand the circumstances I am in, and so have been making sure to put in the necessary work needed to achieve my wanted grades from the get-go.

As I've been able to get quite far ahead on my Further Maths modules and with the fact that I feel confident on everything I have covered so far in all of my subjects, I've made a start on the STEP Support Programme Foundation modules, in attempt to improve my problem-solving skills as I move through the assignments, in future preparation for a potential interview and of course the STEP admissions exams themselves. Once completed all 25 assignments in the Foundation modules I shall move onto the STEP 2 modules (I'm aiming to complete all 25 assignments over a 3 month period, so I'll only be doing 2 a week), and then to STEP 3 modules in Year 13.

Oh, MAT is Oxford specific, if you're prepared for the STEP, you'd do fine in the MAT. STEP is harder. It's a bit early for STEP. I'd get familiar with the A level content. STEP 2 is A level maths and AS further maths. STEP 3 being both A level maths content.