An earlier Axis defeat in North Africa does not cancel Barbarossa

Would an earlier British victory in North Africa prevent or substantially delay Operation Barbarossa?

Probably not, because Hitler remained committed to invading the Soviet Union even as the Mediterranean situation changed.

An earlier British victory in North Africa is unlikely to prevent or substantially delay Barbarossa in this scenario. Hitler's determination to invade the Soviet Union remains the deciding factor. A better Mediterranean position therefore does not remove the eastern campaign from the counterfactual.