diff --git a/documentations/refactor/24-phase-16-live-timing-polish.md b/documentations/refactor/24-phase-16-live-timing-polish.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3ac5a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/documentations/refactor/24-phase-16-live-timing-polish.md
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Phase 16: Live Timing Polish
+
+## Goal
+
+Improve the React Live Timing route as an operations screen while preserving the
+existing official F1 SignalR bridge and TUI live behavior.
+
+## Completed Scope
+
+- Added pure helpers for position delta styling and race-control flag classes.
+- Improved the timing tower with podium position styling, colored position
+  deltas, best-lap/lap-count columns, and compact status badges.
+- Reworked the session banner so track status, lap count, clock, live/stale
+  state, and weather read as dense operational metadata.
+- Improved race-control feed treatment with color-coded flag badges, category
+  labels for non-flag messages, and bounded scrolling.
+- Reworked the live route layout into a two-column desktop view with timing
+  tower priority and race control alongside it.
+- Improved empty and disconnected states without requiring a real live F1
+  session.
+
+## Constraints
+
+- No backend live bridge or TUI live code was changed.
+- No persisted live storage was added.
+- Tests continue to use disabled-live/empty-state coverage because an active F1
+  session is not guaranteed.
+
+## Verification
+
+```bash
+npm --prefix frontend test -- --run
+npm --prefix frontend run build
+npm run test:e2e
+npm run test:e2e:prod
+npm run test:visual
+npm run test:visual:prod
+```
+
+## Related
+
+- [21 MVP Completion Checklist](21-mvp-completion-checklist.md)
+- [23 Phase 15 Command Center](23-phase-15-command-center.md)
diff --git a/documentations/refactor/README.md b/documentations/refactor/README.md
index a12a162..d1acbf2 100644
--- a/documentations/refactor/README.md
+++ b/documentations/refactor/README.md
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ not implementation tickets yet.
   screenshot coverage for MVP routes and responsive viewports.
 - [23 Phase 15 Command Center](23-phase-15-command-center.md): default Web
   entry screen for local coverage, weekend focus, live status, and next actions.
+- [24 Phase 16 Live Timing Polish](24-phase-16-live-timing-polish.md): denser
+  React live timing layout, status treatment, and race-control polish.
 
 ## External References
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/live/RaceControlFeed.tsx b/frontend/src/components/live/RaceControlFeed.tsx
index da270ed..b667821 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/live/RaceControlFeed.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/live/RaceControlFeed.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { LiveRCMessage } from '../../types'
-import { latestRaceControl } from '../../lib/live'
+import { latestRaceControl, rcFlagClass } from '../../lib/live'
 
 interface Props {
   messages: LiveRCMessage[]
@@ -17,13 +17,18 @@ export function RaceControlFeed({ messages }: Props) {
       {latest.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="missing-notice">No race control messages in the current live snapshot.</div>
       ) : (
-        <div className="live-rc-list">
+        <div className="live-rc-list live-rc-scroll">
           {latest.map((message, index) => (
             <div className="live-rc-row" key={`${message.Time}-${message.Message}-${index}`}>
               <span className="rc-time">{message.Time || '--:--'}</span>
-              {message.Flag && <span className="rc-flag">{message.Flag}</span>}
               {message.Lap > 0 && <span className="rc-lap">L{message.Lap}</span>}
-              <span>{message.Message}</span>
+              {message.Flag
+                ? <span className={`rc-flag ${rcFlagClass(message.Flag)}`}>{message.Flag}</span>
+                : message.Category && message.Category !== 'Other'
+                  ? <span className="rc-category">{message.Category}</span>
+                  : null
+              }
+              <span className="rc-message">{message.Message}</span>
             </div>
           ))}
         </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/live/SessionBanner.tsx b/frontend/src/components/live/SessionBanner.tsx
index 2f32078..559644c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/live/SessionBanner.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/live/SessionBanner.tsx
@@ -12,26 +12,39 @@ export function SessionBanner({ isLive, snapshot, connection, now }: Props) {
   const session = snapshot.Session
   const clock = extrapolateClock(snapshot.Clock, snapshot.ClockRefTime, snapshot.ClockExtrapolating, now)
   const status = snapshot.TrackStatus ? trackStatusLabel(snapshot.TrackStatus) : ''
+  const weather = snapshot.Weather
+  const hasWeather = weather && (weather.AirTemp > 0 || weather.TrackTemp > 0)
 
   return (
     <section className="live-banner">
-      <div className="live-banner-main">
-        <span className={`live-conn live-conn-${connection}`}>{connection}</span>
-        <div>
-          <h1>{session?.MeetingName || 'Live Timing'}</h1>
-          <p>
-            {[session?.SessionName, session?.CircuitName].filter(Boolean).join(' · ') || 'F1 live feed'}
-          </p>
+      <div className="live-banner-row">
+        <div className="live-banner-main">
+          <span className={`live-conn live-conn-${connection}`}>{connection}</span>
+          <div>
+            <h1>{session?.MeetingName || 'Live Timing'}</h1>
+            <p>
+              {[session?.SessionName, session?.CircuitName].filter(Boolean).join(' · ') || 'F1 live feed'}
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div className="live-banner-meta">
+          {status && <span className={`track-status ${trackStatusClass(snapshot.TrackStatus)}`}>{status}</span>}
+          <span className="mono">
+            L<strong>{snapshot.CurrentLap || '-'}</strong>/<strong>{snapshot.TotalLaps || '-'}</strong>
+          </span>
+          {clock && <span className="mono">{clock}</span>}
+          <span className={isLive ? 'live-state live-state-on' : 'live-state'}>{isLive ? 'live' : 'stale'}</span>
         </div>
       </div>
-      <div className="live-banner-meta">
-        <span className="mono">
-          Lap <strong>{snapshot.CurrentLap || '-'}</strong>/<strong>{snapshot.TotalLaps || '-'}</strong>
-        </span>
-        {status && <span className={`track-status ${trackStatusClass(snapshot.TrackStatus)}`}>{status}</span>}
-        {clock && <span className="mono">{clock}</span>}
-        <span className={isLive ? 'live-state live-state-on' : 'live-state'}>{isLive ? 'live' : 'stale'}</span>
-      </div>
+      {hasWeather && (
+        <div className="live-weather-strip">
+          <span>{weather.AirTemp.toFixed(0)}° air</span>
+          <span>{weather.TrackTemp.toFixed(0)}° track</span>
+          {weather.Humidity > 0 && <span>{weather.Humidity.toFixed(0)}% humidity</span>}
+          {weather.WindSpeed > 0 && <span>{weather.WindSpeed.toFixed(1)} m/s</span>}
+          {weather.Rainfall && <span className="badge badge-wet">WET</span>}
+        </div>
+      )}
     </section>
   )
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/live/TimingTower.tsx b/frontend/src/components/live/TimingTower.tsx
index 274a91c..164203c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/live/TimingTower.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/live/TimingTower.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,25 @@
 import { teamColor } from '../../utils'
 import type { LiveStreamData } from '../../types'
-import { driverCode, positionDelta, sortLiveTimingRows, tyreClass, tyreLabel } from '../../lib/live'
+import {
+  driverCode,
+  positionDelta,
+  positionDeltaClass,
+  sortLiveTimingRows,
+  tyreClass,
+  tyreLabel,
+} from '../../lib/live'
 
 interface Props {
   snapshot: LiveStreamData
 }
 
+function posClass(pos: number): string {
+  if (pos === 1) return 'pos-p1'
+  if (pos === 2) return 'pos-p2'
+  if (pos === 3) return 'pos-p3'
+  return 'pos-n'
+}
+
 export function TimingTower({ snapshot }: Props) {
   const rows = sortLiveTimingRows(snapshot)
 
@@ -19,7 +33,7 @@ export function TimingTower({ snapshot }: Props) {
 
   return (
     <div className="scroll-x">
-      <table className="data-table live-tower" style={{ minWidth: 520 }}>
+      <table className="data-table live-tower" style={{ minWidth: 480 }}>
         <thead>
           <tr>
             <th>Pos</th>
@@ -28,12 +42,15 @@ export function TimingTower({ snapshot }: Props) {
             <th>Tyre</th>
             <th>Last Lap</th>
             <th>Gap</th>
-            <th>Best</th>
+            <th className="hide-mobile">Best</th>
+            <th className="hide-mobile r">Laps</th>
           </tr>
         </thead>
         <tbody>
           {rows.map((row) => {
             const driver = row.Driver
+            const delta = positionDelta(driver)
+            const deltaClass = positionDeltaClass(driver)
             return (
               <tr
                 key={row.RacingNumber}
@@ -43,15 +60,19 @@ export function TimingTower({ snapshot }: Props) {
                   driver.Retired ? 'retired' : '',
                 ].filter(Boolean).join(' ')}
               >
-                <td className="mono pos-n">{row.Position}</td>
-                <td className="pos-delta">{positionDelta(driver)}</td>
+                <td className={`mono ${posClass(row.Position)}`}>{row.Position}</td>
+                <td className={`pos-delta${deltaClass ? ` ${deltaClass}` : ''}`}>{delta}</td>
                 <td>
                   <div className="drv-cell">
                     <div className="drv-bar" style={{ background: teamColor(row.Info?.TeamColour) }} />
                     <span className="drv-code">{driverCode(row)}</span>
                     <span className="drv-num">{row.RacingNumber}</span>
                     {driver.InPit && <span className="badge badge-pit">PIT</span>}
-                    {driver.Retired && <span className="badge badge-out">OUT</span>}
+                    {driver.PitOut && !driver.InPit && <span className="badge badge-pit">OUT</span>}
+                    {driver.Retired && <span className="badge badge-out">RET</span>}
+                    {driver.KnockedOut && <span className="badge badge-knocked">KO</span>}
+                    {driver.Cutoff && !driver.KnockedOut && <span className="badge badge-cutoff">CUT</span>}
+                    {driver.OnFlyingLap && <span className="badge badge-flying">FL</span>}
                   </div>
                 </td>
                 <td>
@@ -61,7 +82,10 @@ export function TimingTower({ snapshot }: Props) {
                   {driver.LastLapTime || '-'}
                 </td>
                 <td className="mono">{driver.GapToLeader || driver.Interval || '-'}</td>
-                <td className={driver.BestLapOB ? 'mono lap-ob' : 'mono'}>{driver.BestLapTime || '-'}</td>
+                <td className={`hide-mobile ${driver.BestLapOB ? 'mono lap-ob' : 'mono'}`}>
+                  {driver.BestLapTime || '-'}
+                </td>
+                <td className="hide-mobile mono r">{driver.NumberOfLaps || '-'}</td>
               </tr>
             )
           })}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/live.ts b/frontend/src/lib/live.ts
index c0e8f36..42bb193 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/live.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/live.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,29 @@ export function positionDelta(driver: LiveDriverData): string {
   return driver.PrevPosition > driver.Position ? '▲' : '▼'
 }
 
+export function positionDeltaClass(driver: LiveDriverData): string {
+  if (!driver.PrevPosition || !driver.Position || driver.PrevPosition === driver.Position) return ''
+  return driver.PrevPosition > driver.Position ? 'pos-gain' : 'pos-loss'
+}
+
+const RC_FLAG_CSS: Record<string, string> = {
+  GREEN:                'rc-flag-green',
+  YELLOW:               'rc-flag-yellow',
+  'DOUBLE YELLOW':      'rc-flag-yellow',
+  RED:                  'rc-flag-red',
+  SC:                   'rc-flag-sc',
+  'SAFETY CAR':         'rc-flag-sc',
+  VSC:                  'rc-flag-vsc',
+  'VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR': 'rc-flag-vsc',
+  CHEQUERED:            'rc-flag-chequered',
+  CHECKERED:            'rc-flag-chequered',
+}
+
+export function rcFlagClass(flag: string): string {
+  if (!flag) return ''
+  return RC_FLAG_CSS[flag.toUpperCase()] ?? ''
+}
+
 export function tyreLabel(tyre: LiveTyreData | undefined): string {
   if (!tyre) return '?'
   const compound = tyre.Compound?.charAt(0) || '?'
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/LiveTimingPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/LiveTimingPage.tsx
index f258337..d0c17e5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/LiveTimingPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/LiveTimingPage.tsx
@@ -76,29 +76,42 @@ export function LiveTimingPage() {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {streamStatus === 'disconnected' && (
-        <div className="missing-notice">Live stream disconnected. Showing the last received snapshot.</div>
+      {streamStatus === 'disconnected' && snapshot && (
+        <div className="live-status-strip live-status-warn">
+          Stream disconnected — showing last received snapshot
+        </div>
       )}
 
-      {isLoading && !snapshot && <div className="loading-state">connecting to live timing…</div>}
+      {isLoading && !snapshot && (
+        <div className="loading-state">connecting to live timing…</div>
+      )}
 
       {!isLoading && !snapshot && (
         <div className="empty-state" data-testid="live-empty">
+          <div className="live-empty-status">
+            <span className={`live-conn live-conn-${streamStatus}`}>{streamStatus}</span>
+          </div>
           <div className="empty-state-title">No live session active</div>
-          <div className="empty-state-desc">Check back during an F1 race weekend.</div>
+          <div className="empty-state-desc">
+            No timing data in the current snapshot. The feed will update automatically when an F1 session goes live.
+          </div>
         </div>
       )}
 
       {snapshot && (
         <>
           <SessionBanner isLive={isLive} snapshot={snapshot} connection={streamStatus} now={now} />
-          <div className="data-section">
-            <div className="sec-header">
-              <span className="sec-title">Timing Tower</span>
+          <div className="live-columns">
+            <div className="live-tower-col">
+              <div className="sec-header">
+                <span className="sec-title">Timing Tower</span>
+              </div>
+              <TimingTower snapshot={snapshot} />
+            </div>
+            <div className="live-rc-col">
+              <RaceControlFeed messages={snapshot.RCMessages ?? []} />
             </div>
-            <TimingTower snapshot={snapshot} />
           </div>
-          <RaceControlFeed messages={snapshot.RCMessages ?? []} />
         </>
       )}
     </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/app.css b/frontend/src/styles/app.css
index f106129..5398f87 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/app.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/app.css
@@ -481,13 +481,16 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
 .live-page { max-width: 1120px; }
 
 .live-banner {
+  padding-bottom: var(--s4);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+  margin-bottom: var(--s5);
+}
+
+.live-banner-row {
   display: flex;
   justify-content: space-between;
   align-items: center;
   gap: var(--s5);
-  padding-bottom: var(--s4);
-  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
-  margin-bottom: var(--s5);
 }
 
 .live-banner-main {
@@ -515,6 +518,63 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
   flex-wrap: wrap;
 }
 
+.live-weather-strip {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: var(--s4);
+  align-items: center;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  margin-top: var(--s3);
+  padding-top: var(--s3);
+  border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: var(--text-3);
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+}
+
+.badge-wet {
+  background: rgba(0,128,255,.14);
+  color: #66aaff;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(0,128,255,.26);
+}
+
+/* ── Live columns layout ── */
+.live-columns {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--s5);
+}
+
+@media (min-width: 900px) {
+  .live-columns {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) 340px;
+    gap: var(--s5);
+    align-items: start;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ── Live status strip ── */
+.live-status-strip {
+  padding: var(--s2) var(--s5);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  margin-bottom: var(--s4);
+  border-radius: 2px;
+}
+
+.live-status-warn {
+  background: rgba(255,214,0,.06);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255,214,0,.2);
+  color: var(--yellow);
+}
+
+/* ── Live empty state ── */
+.live-empty-status {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  margin-bottom: var(--s4);
+}
+
 .mono { font-family: var(--f-mono); }
 
 .live-conn,
@@ -549,11 +609,16 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
 .live-tower .in-pit td { background: rgba(0, 80, 160, 0.14); }
 .live-tower .pit-out td { background: rgba(57, 199, 58, 0.10); }
 .live-tower .retired td { opacity: 0.62; }
-.pos-delta { color: var(--text-3); font-family: var(--f-mono); }
+.pos-delta { font-family: var(--f-mono); color: var(--text-3); }
+.pos-delta.pos-gain { color: var(--green); }
+.pos-delta.pos-loss { color: var(--red); }
 .lap-pb { color: var(--green); }
 .lap-ob { color: var(--purple); }
-.badge-pit { background: rgba(0,128,255,.14); color: #66aaff; border: 1px solid rgba(0,128,255,.26); }
-.badge-out { background: rgba(225,6,0,.12); color: #ff6b6b; border: 1px solid rgba(225,6,0,.24); }
+.badge-pit     { background: rgba(0,128,255,.14); color: #66aaff;        border: 1px solid rgba(0,128,255,.26); }
+.badge-out     { background: rgba(225,6,0,.12);   color: #ff6b6b;        border: 1px solid rgba(225,6,0,.24); }
+.badge-flying  { background: rgba(194,120,255,.14); color: var(--purple); border: 1px solid rgba(194,120,255,.26); }
+.badge-knocked { background: rgba(225,6,0,.12);   color: #ff6b6b;        border: 1px solid rgba(225,6,0,.24); }
+.badge-cutoff  { background: rgba(255,214,0,.12); color: var(--yellow);  border: 1px solid rgba(255,214,0,.25); }
 
 .tyre-soft { background: var(--tyre-soft); color: #fff; }
 .tyre-medium { background: var(--tyre-medium); color: #111; }
@@ -568,6 +633,11 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
   border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
 }
 
+.live-rc-scroll {
+  max-height: 320px;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
 .live-rc-row {
   display: flex;
   align-items: baseline;
@@ -575,6 +645,7 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
   padding: var(--s3) 0;
   border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
   font-size: 12px;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
 }
 
 .rc-time,
@@ -585,6 +656,8 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
   font-size: 11px;
 }
 
+.rc-message { flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
+
 .rc-flag {
   flex-shrink: 0;
   padding: 1px 5px;
@@ -596,6 +669,23 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
   letter-spacing: 0.06em;
 }
 
+.rc-flag-green    { background: rgba(57,199,58,.15);    color: var(--green);  border-color: rgba(57,199,58,.3); }
+.rc-flag-yellow   { background: rgba(255,214,0,.15);    color: var(--yellow); border-color: rgba(255,214,0,.3); }
+.rc-flag-red      { background: rgba(225,6,0,.15);      color: #ff6b6b;       border-color: rgba(225,6,0,.3); }
+.rc-flag-sc       { background: rgba(255,214,0,.15);    color: var(--yellow); border-color: rgba(255,214,0,.3); }
+.rc-flag-vsc      { background: rgba(194,120,255,.15);  color: var(--purple); border-color: rgba(194,120,255,.3); }
+.rc-flag-chequered { background: rgba(200,200,200,.10); color: var(--text-2); border-color: var(--border-2); }
+
+.rc-category {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  font-size: 9px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.07em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--text-3);
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+}
+
 .missing-notice {
   padding: var(--s4) var(--s5);
   background: var(--surface);
@@ -1240,7 +1330,7 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
 
   .session-bar input { flex: 1; max-width: 140px; }
 
-  .live-banner {
+  .live-banner-row {
     flex-direction: column;
     align-items: flex-start;
     gap: var(--s3);
@@ -1250,6 +1340,8 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
     width: 100%;
   }
   .live-banner h1 { font-size: 16px; }
+  .live-weather-strip { gap: var(--s3); }
+  .live-rc-scroll { max-height: 220px; }
 
   .dataset-strip {
     flex-wrap: nowrap;
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/live.test.ts b/frontend/src/test/live.test.ts
index 3899b9f..78c7a52 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/live.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/test/live.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 import {
   extrapolateClock,
   latestRaceControl,
+  positionDeltaClass,
   parseLiveStateEvent,
+  rcFlagClass,
   sortLiveTimingRows,
   trackStatusLabel,
   tyreClass,
@@ -121,6 +123,16 @@ describe('live transforms', () => {
     expect(latestRaceControl(snapshot.RCMessages, 1)[0].Message).toBe('DRS ENABLED')
   })
 
+  it('maps position delta and race-control flag classes', () => {
+    expect(positionDeltaClass(snapshot.Drivers['16'])).toBe('pos-gain')
+    expect(positionDeltaClass(snapshot.Drivers['1'])).toBe('pos-loss')
+    expect(positionDeltaClass({ ...snapshot.Drivers['1'], PrevPosition: 2, Position: 2 })).toBe('')
+    expect(rcFlagClass('GREEN')).toBe('rc-flag-green')
+    expect(rcFlagClass('safety car')).toBe('rc-flag-sc')
+    expect(rcFlagClass('virtual safety car')).toBe('rc-flag-vsc')
+    expect(rcFlagClass('unknown')).toBe('')
+  })
+
   it('extrapolates the session clock from the reference time', () => {
     expect(extrapolateClock('01:20:00', '2026-05-25T12:00:00Z', true, Date.parse('2026-05-25T12:00:30Z'))).toBe('01:19:30')
   })