diff --git a/docs/testing.md b/docs/testing.md
index f7a5981..626514e 100644
--- a/docs/testing.md
+++ b/docs/testing.md
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ Do not create the file or use `approved` until the owner has reviewed the packet
 npm run release:fidelity:verify
 ```
 
-The verifier checks that the packet exists and the sign-off exists in `HEAD`, names the current candidate commit, and has the required owner fields. It intentionally cannot assess visual fidelity or create approval.
+The verifier checks that the packet exists, the sign-off exists in `HEAD`, and its full candidate SHA names a commit that is an ancestor of the sign-off commit. It also requires the owner, date, and approved decision fields. It intentionally cannot assess visual fidelity or create approval.
 
 For a release candidate, `npm run release:fidelity:gate` runs production visual regression first, then capture, packet generation, and owner-evidence verification in that order. It will remain red until the owner has committed the sign-off.
 
diff --git a/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.mjs b/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.mjs
index 35759d9..2ce3953 100644
--- a/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.mjs
+++ b/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.mjs
@@ -21,10 +21,17 @@ try {
   for (const file of required) await readFile(join(evidence, file))
   git('cat-file', '-e', `HEAD:${signoff}`)
   const text = await readFile(signoff, 'utf8')
-  const commit = git('rev-parse', 'HEAD')
+  const candidate = text.match(/^- Candidate commit: ([0-9a-f]{40})$/mi)?.[1]
+  if (!candidate) throw new Error(`${signoff} must contain a full candidate commit SHA`)
+  git('cat-file', '-e', `${candidate}^{commit}`)
+  const signoffCommit = git('log', '-1', '--format=%H', 'HEAD', '--', signoff)
+  try {
+    git('merge-base', '--is-ancestor', candidate, signoffCommit)
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error(`${signoff} must be committed after candidate ${candidate}`)
+  }
   const fields = [
     ['Version', version],
-    ['Candidate commit', commit],
     ['Reviewed by', '.+'],
     ['Reviewed on', '\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}'],
     ['Decision', 'approved'],
@@ -34,7 +41,7 @@ try {
       throw new Error(`${signoff} must contain "- ${name}: ${value}"`)
     }
   }
-  console.log(`Release-fidelity evidence and committed owner approval verified for ${version}.`)
+  console.log(`Release-fidelity evidence and committed owner approval verified for ${version} at ${candidate}.`)
 } catch (error) {
   console.error(`Release-fidelity gate blocked: ${error.message}`)
   process.exitCode = 1
diff --git a/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.test.mjs b/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0aec6f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release-fidelity/verify.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
+import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdtemp, mkdir, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { join, resolve } from 'node:path'
+import test from 'node:test'
+
+const verifier = resolve('scripts/release-fidelity/verify.mjs')
+
+function git(directory, ...args) {
+  return execFileSync('git', args, { cwd: directory, encoding: 'utf8' }).trim()
+}
+
+test('accepts a committed sign-off for an ancestor candidate', async () => {
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'boxbox-fidelity-verify-'))
+  git(root, 'init')
+  git(root, 'config', 'user.email', 'test@example.com')
+  git(root, 'config', 'user.name', 'Test')
+  await writeFile(join(root, 'candidate.txt'), 'candidate')
+  git(root, 'add', 'candidate.txt')
+  git(root, 'commit', '-m', 'candidate')
+  const candidate = git(root, 'rev-parse', 'HEAD')
+
+  await mkdir(join(root, 'docs/release/owner-reviews'), { recursive: true })
+  await writeFile(join(root, 'docs/release/owner-reviews/v-test.md'), `- Version: v-test\n- Candidate commit: ${candidate}\n- Reviewed by: Owner\n- Reviewed on: 2026-07-30\n- Decision: approved\n`)
+  git(root, 'add', 'docs/release/owner-reviews/v-test.md')
+  git(root, 'commit', '-m', 'owner sign-off')
+
+  const evidence = join(root, 'evidence')
+  await mkdir(evidence)
+  await writeFile(join(evidence, 'index.html'), '')
+  await writeFile(join(evidence, 'summary.md'), '')
+  const output = execFileSync(process.execPath, [verifier, '--version', 'v-test', '--evidence', evidence], {
+    cwd: root,
+    encoding: 'utf8',
+  })
+  assert.match(output, new RegExp(candidate))
+})
diff --git a/tests/release-fidelity/capture.spec.ts b/tests/release-fidelity/capture.spec.ts
index 3aab074..fc373cf 100644
--- a/tests/release-fidelity/capture.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/release-fidelity/capture.spec.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,28 @@
 import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises'
 import { join } from 'node:path'
 import { expect, test, type Page } from '@playwright/test'
-import {
-  gotoLiveEmptyReady,
-  waitForScreenshotReady,
-} from '../visual/helpers'
+import { waitForScreenshotReady } from '../visual/helpers'
 
 const version = process.env.RELEASE_FIDELITY_VERSION ?? 'v0.4.0'
 const output = process.env.RELEASE_FIDELITY_OUTPUT ?? 'release-fidelity'
+const activeLiveState = {
+  is_live: true,
+  data: {
+    Drivers: {
+      '1': { RacingNumber: '1', Position: 1, Interval: '' },
+      '44': { RacingNumber: '44', Position: 2, Interval: '+2.314' },
+    },
+    DriverInfo: {
+      '1': { RacingNumber: '1', Tla: 'VER', TeamColour: '3671C6' },
+      '44': { RacingNumber: '44', Tla: 'HAM', TeamColour: 'E8002D' },
+    },
+    Tyres: {},
+    RCMessages: [],
+    Weather: {},
+    Session: { MeetingName: 'Monaco', SessionName: 'Race', SessionType: 'Race' },
+    TrackStatus: '1',
+  },
+}
 
 async function capture(page: Page, name: string, project: string): Promise<void> {
   const directory = join(output, version, 'candidate', project)
@@ -15,6 +30,12 @@ async function capture(page: Page, name: string, project: string): Promise<void>
   await page.screenshot({ fullPage: true, path: join(directory, `${name}.png`) })
 }
 
+async function useSeededCalendar(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+  await page.route(/\/api\/v1\/meetings\?year=2025&source=openf1$/, (route) =>
+    route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: '[]' }),
+  )
+}
+
 async function gotoCommandCenterFidelityReady(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await page.goto('/')
   await expect(page.getByTestId('command-center')).toBeVisible()
@@ -27,14 +48,25 @@ async function gotoCommandCenterFidelityReady(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 test.describe('release-fidelity candidate captures', () => {
   test('approved screen set', async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
     const project = testInfo.project.name
+    await useSeededCalendar(page)
 
     if (project === 'desktop') {
+      await page.clock.install({ time: new Date('2025-06-01T12:00:00Z') })
       await gotoCommandCenterFidelityReady(page)
+      await expect(page.getByTestId('hero-last-race')).toBeVisible()
       await capture(page, 'weekend-between-races', project)
-      await gotoLiveEmptyReady(page)
+
+      await page.route('**/api/v1/live/state', (route) =>
+        route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify(activeLiveState) }),
+      )
+      await page.clock.setFixedTime(new Date('2025-05-25T14:00:00Z'))
+      await gotoCommandCenterFidelityReady(page)
+      await expect(page.getByTestId('hero-live-timing')).toBeVisible()
       await capture(page, 'weekend-live', project)
     } else {
+      await page.clock.install({ time: new Date('2025-05-25T12:00:00Z') })
       await gotoCommandCenterFidelityReady(page)
+      await expect(page.getByTestId('hero-countdown')).toContainText('Next')
       await capture(page, 'weekend-between-sessions-mobile', project)
     }
   })