fix(agents): disable agy implementation dispatch

Codex handoff could not write .agents in its sandbox, so the orchestrator applied the intended fail-fast change: agy remains available for dry-run prompt inspection but non-dry-run dispatch exits before worktree or PR side effects.

.agents/README.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ bin/dev          CLI: `dev implement <issue#> --harness <name> [--dry-run]`
 - **Groom** (interactive, Claude): `/groom <issue#>` runs a seeded grill-me → writes a
   Ready spec into the issue body → sets Effort/Priority → leaves Stage at `Research`.
   You review and flip to `Ready`.
-- **Implement** (any harness): `.agents/bin/dev implement <issue#> --harness <name>`
+- **Implement** (recommended harnesses: `codex` or `cursor`): `.agents/bin/dev implement <issue#> --harness <name>`
   (or `/implement …` in Claude to supervise) → isolated worktree → runs the harness
   headless on the spec → build gate → opens a PR → sets Stage `In Review`.
 - **Review + merge**: use the `review` skill from a harness different from the
@@ -42,8 +42,17 @@ local adapter state.
 ## Adding / fixing a harness
 
 Edit one function in `harnesses.sh`: `harness_<name> <workdir> <promptfile>`, running the
-tool non-interactively in `<workdir>` on the prompt. `claude`/`codex`/`opencode` are
+tool non-interactively in `<workdir>` on the prompt. For current implementation
-wired; `pi`/`cursor` are stubs — confirm their headless flags before trusting.
+dispatch, prefer `codex` or `cursor`; `claude` and `opencode` remain available, and
+`pi` still needs flag verification before trusting.
+
+`agy` / Antigravity is deliberately disabled for non-dry-run dispatch as of
+2026-07-04. Phase 1 testing found the headless path unreliable: with
+`--new-project` it ignored the prompt and tried to scaffold, while without it the CLI
+could resume a stale conversation and hang past the print timeout. Keep using
+`.agents/bin/dev implement <issue#> --harness agy --dry-run` for prompt inspection
+only; real dispatch should use `codex` or `cursor` until a fresh Antigravity
+headless invocation is verified and documented.
 
 Always `--dry-run` a new harness first: it renders the exact prompt and plan, touching
 nothing (no worktree, PR, or state change).

.agents/bin/dev

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # .agents/bin/dev — box-box agentic dev CLI. Works from any harness's shell.
 #
-#   dev implement <issue#> --harness <claude|codex|opencode|pi|cursor> [--dry-run] [--base <branch>]
+#   dev implement <issue#> --harness <codex|cursor|claude|opencode|pi|agy> [--dry-run] [--base <branch>]
 #
 # Grooming is driven interactively via the Claude Code /groom skill; this CLI covers
 # the implement lane (dispatch a Ready issue to a harness → worktree → gate → PR).
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ box-box dev CLI
 
   dev implement <issue#> --harness <name> [--dry-run] [--base <branch>]
 
-harnesses: claude, codex, opencode (supported) · pi, cursor (verify flags in .agents/harnesses.sh)
+harnesses: codex, cursor (recommended) · claude, opencode (available) · agy (dry-run only, disabled for dispatch) · pi (verify flags)
   --dry-run   render the prompt + plan, touch nothing (no worktree/PR/state change)
   --base      base branch for the worktree/PR (default: main)
 EOF

.agents/harnesses.sh

@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@
 
 # ---- MUST-HAVE ----
 
+harness_disabled_reason() {              # <name> -> reason on stdout; 0 means disabled
+  case "$1" in
+    agy)
+      cat <<'EOF'
+agy is disabled for implementation dispatch as of 2026-07-04: Antigravity headless mode was observed to ignore prompts with --new-project, resume stale conversations without it, and hang past print timeouts. Use codex or cursor until a fresh headless invocation is verified.
+EOF
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    *) return 1 ;;
+  esac
+}
+
 harness_claude() {                      # Claude Code — print mode, auto-accept edits
   local dir="$1" prompt="$2"
   ( cd "$dir" && claude -p "$(cat "$prompt")" --permission-mode acceptEdits )
@@ -31,14 +43,11 @@ harness_cursor() {                      # Cursor CLI agent — composer-2.5, hea
   ( cd "$dir" && cursor-agent -p "$(cat "$prompt")" --model composer-2.5 --force --trust )
 }
 
-harness_agy() {                         # Antigravity CLI — UNRELIABLE headless (2026-07): with
+harness_agy() {                         # Antigravity CLI — disabled until headless is verified
-  # --new-project it ignores the prompt and asks to scaffold a project; without it, it
+  local reason
-  # resumes the previous conversation (silently keeping its old model — --model only
+  reason="$(harness_disabled_reason agy)"
-  # applies to new conversations) and can hang past the print timeout. Do not trust for
+  echo "harness_agy: $reason" >&2
-  # dispatch until fixed upstream; verify with a trivial prompt first.
+  return 2
-  local dir="$1" prompt="$2"
-  ( cd "$dir" && agy --print --print-timeout 60m \
-      --model="Gemini 3.1 Pro (High)" --dangerously-skip-permissions "$(cat "$prompt")" )
 }
 
 # ---- NICE-TO-HAVE (verify the exact invocation for your version before trusting) ----

.agents/lib/dispatch.sh

@@ -52,6 +52,15 @@ dispatch() { # <issue#> <harness> [--dry-run] [--base <branch>]
   if ! declare -f "harness_$harness" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     echo "no adapter for harness '$harness' — add harness_$harness() to .agents/harnesses.sh" >&2; return 2
   fi
+  if [ "$dry" != 1 ] && declare -f harness_disabled_reason >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    local disabled_reason
+    if disabled_reason="$(harness_disabled_reason "$harness")"; then
+      echo "harness '$harness' is disabled for non-dry-run dispatch." >&2
+      echo "  $disabled_reason" >&2
+      echo "  Use --dry-run for prompt inspection, or dispatch with --harness codex/cursor." >&2
+      return 2
+    fi
+  fi
 
   local repo_root title body slug branch wt prompt
   repo_root="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)" || return 1

.agents/test/dispatch_disabled_harness_test.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+cd "$ROOT"
+
+# shellcheck source=/dev/null
+source "$ROOT/.agents/lib/dispatch.sh"
+
+issue_title() { echo "Disable agy harness smoke"; }
+issue_body() { echo "## Spec"; echo; echo "Smoke prompt body"; }
+get_field() { echo "Ready"; }
+set_stage() { echo "unexpected set_stage $*" >&2; return 99; }
+run_gate() { echo "unexpected run_gate $*" >&2; return 99; }
+
+unexpected_git_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/boxbox-agy-git.XXXX")"
+rm -f "$unexpected_git_file"
+git() {
+  if [ "${1:-}" = "rev-parse" ]; then
+    command git "$@"
+    return
+  fi
+  echo "unexpected git $*" >&2
+  touch "$unexpected_git_file"
+  return 99
+}
+
+set +e
+non_dry_output="$(dispatch 47 agy 2>&1)"
+non_dry_status=$?
+set -e
+
+[ "$non_dry_status" -eq 2 ] || {
+  echo "expected agy non-dry-run to exit 2, got $non_dry_status" >&2
+  echo "$non_dry_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+[[ "$non_dry_output" == *"harness 'agy' is disabled"* ]] || {
+  echo "expected disabled-harness message" >&2
+  echo "$non_dry_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+[ ! -e "$unexpected_git_file" ] || {
+  echo "agy non-dry-run reached git before failing" >&2
+  echo "$non_dry_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+dry_output="$(dispatch 47 agy --dry-run 2>&1)"
+[[ "$dry_output" == *"[dry-run] no worktree / harness / PR / state change"* ]] || {
+  echo "expected agy dry-run to render dispatch preview" >&2
+  echo "$dry_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+[[ "$dry_output" == *"Smoke prompt body"* ]] || {
+  echo "expected agy dry-run prompt body" >&2
+  echo "$dry_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+}

frontend/src/api.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import type {
   ArticleContent,
+  CarDataSample,
   ChampionshipHub,
+  LapsComparisonResponse,
   LiveStateResponse,
   LiveSessionMeta,
   Meeting,
@@ -126,3 +128,32 @@ export async function markNewsRead(articleUrl: string): Promise<void> {
     body: JSON.stringify({ url: articleUrl }),
   })
 }
+
+export async function fetchTelemetry(
+  sessionKey: number,
+  driverNumber: number,
+): Promise<CarDataSample[]> {
+  const res = await fetch(
+    `/api/v1/telemetry?session_key=${sessionKey}&driver_number=${driverNumber}`,
+  )
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`API ${res.status}: ${res.statusText}`)
+  }
+  const data = await res.json()
+  return Array.isArray(data) ? data : []
+}
+
+export async function fetchLapsComparison(
+  sessionKey: number,
+  drivers?: number[],
+): Promise<LapsComparisonResponse> {
+  const params = new URLSearchParams({ session_key: String(sessionKey) })
+  if (drivers?.length) {
+    params.set('drivers', drivers.join(','))
+  }
+  const res = await fetch(`/api/v1/laps/comparison?${params}`)
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`API ${res.status}: ${res.statusText}`)
+  }
+  return res.json()
+}

frontend/src/components/CompareView.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import { fetchLapsComparison, fetchTelemetry } from '../api'
+import {
+  buildBestLapTraceSeries,
+  compareDriverOptions,
+  comparisonToDeltaSeries,
+  defaultCompareDriverNumbers,
+  formatPitLapsCaption,
+} from '../lib/compare'
+import type { Driver, EnrichedResult } from '../types'
+import { teamColor } from '../utils'
+import { DriverCell } from './DriverCell'
+import { TelemetryTraceChart } from './charts/TelemetryTraceChart'
+import { DeltaTimeGraph } from './charts/DeltaTimeGraph'
+import '../styles/compare-view.css'
+
+interface Props {
+  sessionKey: number
+  results: EnrichedResult[]
+  drivers: Driver[]
+}
+
+function SectionState({
+  loading,
+  error,
+  empty,
+  emptyMessage,
+  children,
+}: {
+  loading: boolean
+  error: Error | null
+  empty: boolean
+  emptyMessage: string
+  children: React.ReactNode
+}) {
+  if (loading) {
+    return <div className="loading-state">loading…</div>
+  }
+  if (error) {
+    return <div className="error-box">{error.message}</div>
+  }
+  if (empty) {
+    return <div className="missing-notice">{emptyMessage}</div>
+  }
+  return <>{children}</>
+}
+
+export function CompareView({ sessionKey, results, drivers }: Props) {
+  const driverOptions = useMemo(
+    () => compareDriverOptions(drivers, results),
+    [drivers, results],
+  )
+
+  const initialPair = useMemo(
+    () => defaultCompareDriverNumbers(results, drivers),
+    [results, drivers],
+  )
+
+  const previousSessionKey = useRef(sessionKey)
+  const [driverA, setDriverA] = useState<number | null>(initialPair?.[0] ?? null)
+  const [driverB, setDriverB] = useState<number | null>(initialPair?.[1] ?? null)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (previousSessionKey.current !== sessionKey) {
+      previousSessionKey.current = sessionKey
+      setDriverA(initialPair?.[0] ?? null)
+      setDriverB(initialPair?.[1] ?? null)
+      return
+    }
+
+    if (driverA != null && driverB != null) return
+    if (!initialPair) return
+    setDriverA(initialPair[0])
+    setDriverB(initialPair[1])
+  }, [sessionKey, initialPair, driverA, driverB])
+
+  const pair = useMemo((): [number, number] | null => {
+    if (driverA == null || driverB == null || driverA === driverB) return null
+    return [driverA, driverB]
+  }, [driverA, driverB])
+
+  const comparisonQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['laps-comparison', sessionKey, pair?.[0], pair?.[1]],
+    queryFn: () => fetchLapsComparison(sessionKey, pair!),
+    enabled: pair != null,
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  })
+
+  const telemetryAQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['telemetry', sessionKey, pair?.[0]],
+    queryFn: () => fetchTelemetry(sessionKey, pair![0]),
+    enabled: pair != null,
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  })
+
+  const telemetryBQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['telemetry', sessionKey, pair?.[1]],
+    queryFn: () => fetchTelemetry(sessionKey, pair![1]),
+    enabled: pair != null,
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  })
+
+  const comparison = comparisonQuery.data
+  const referenceLabel = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!pair) return undefined
+    const meta = comparison?.drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number === pair[0])
+    const session = drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number === pair[0])
+    return meta?.name_acronym || session?.name_acronym
+  }, [pair, comparison, drivers])
+
+  const deltaSeries = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!comparison || !pair) return []
+    return comparisonToDeltaSeries(comparison, pair, drivers)
+  }, [comparison, pair, drivers])
+
+  const pitCaption = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!comparison || !pair) return null
+    return formatPitLapsCaption(comparison.pit_laps, pair, comparison, drivers)
+  }, [comparison, pair, drivers])
+
+  const traceSeries = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!pair || !comparison) return []
+    const out = []
+
+    for (const dn of pair) {
+      const comp = comparison.drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number === dn)
+      const session = drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number === dn)
+      const label = comp?.name_acronym || session?.name_acronym || `#${dn}`
+      const color = teamColor(comp?.team_colour || session?.team_colour)
+
+      const carData =
+        dn === pair[0] ? (telemetryAQuery.data ?? []) : (telemetryBQuery.data ?? [])
+      const series = buildBestLapTraceSeries(carData, comp?.laps ?? [], label, color)
+      if (series) out.push(series)
+    }
+
+    return out
+  }, [pair, comparison, drivers, telemetryAQuery.data, telemetryBQuery.data])
+
+  const telemetryLoading = telemetryAQuery.isLoading || telemetryBQuery.isLoading
+  const telemetryError = telemetryAQuery.error ?? telemetryBQuery.error
+
+  if (driverOptions.length < 2) {
+    return (
+      <div className="missing-notice" data-testid="compare-view-empty">
+        Need at least two drivers in this session to compare.
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  const driverAInfo = driverOptions.find((d) => d.driver_number === driverA)
+  const driverBInfo = driverOptions.find((d) => d.driver_number === driverB)
+
+  return (
+    <div className="compare-view" data-testid="compare-view">
+      <div className="compare-pickers">
+        <div className="compare-picker">
+          <span className="compare-picker-label">Reference</span>
+          <select
+            className="compare-picker-select"
+            value={driverA ?? ''}
+            onChange={(e) => setDriverA(Number(e.target.value))}
+            data-testid="compare-picker-a"
+          >
+            {driverOptions.map((d) => (
+              <option key={d.driver_number} value={d.driver_number}>
+                {d.name_acronym} · #{d.driver_number}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </select>
+          {driverAInfo && (
+            <DriverCell
+              acronym={driverAInfo.name_acronym}
+              number={driverAInfo.driver_number}
+              colour={driverAInfo.team_colour}
+            />
+          )}
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="compare-picker">
+          <span className="compare-picker-label">Challenger</span>
+          <select
+            className="compare-picker-select"
+            value={driverB ?? ''}
+            onChange={(e) => setDriverB(Number(e.target.value))}
+            data-testid="compare-picker-b"
+          >
+            {driverOptions.map((d) => (
+              <option key={d.driver_number} value={d.driver_number}>
+                {d.name_acronym} · #{d.driver_number}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </select>
+          {driverBInfo && (
+            <DriverCell
+              acronym={driverBInfo.name_acronym}
+              number={driverBInfo.driver_number}
+              colour={driverBInfo.team_colour}
+            />
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {driverA === driverB && (
+        <div className="analysis-notice">
+          <strong>Pick two different drivers</strong> to run a comparison.
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      <section className="compare-section" data-testid="compare-telemetry-section">
+        <div>
+          <div className="compare-section-title">Best lap telemetry</div>
+          <div className="compare-section-meta">
+            Speed, throttle, and brake traces for each driver&apos;s fastest lap
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <SectionState
+          loading={telemetryLoading}
+          error={telemetryError instanceof Error ? telemetryError : null}
+          empty={!telemetryLoading && !telemetryError && traceSeries.length === 0}
+          emptyMessage="No telemetry samples for the best laps. Car data may not be available for this session."
+        >
+          <TelemetryTraceChart series={traceSeries} />
+        </SectionState>
+      </section>
+
+      <section className="compare-section" data-testid="compare-pace-section">
+        <div>
+          <div className="compare-section-title">Race pace</div>
+          <div className="compare-section-meta">
+            Cumulative lap-time delta vs {referenceLabel ?? 'reference'}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <SectionState
+          loading={comparisonQuery.isLoading}
+          error={comparisonQuery.error instanceof Error ? comparisonQuery.error : null}
+          empty={!comparisonQuery.isLoading && !comparisonQuery.error && deltaSeries.length < 2}
+          emptyMessage="No lap comparison data for the selected drivers."
+        >
+          <DeltaTimeGraph series={deltaSeries} referenceLabel={referenceLabel} />
+          {pitCaption && (
+            <p className="compare-pit-caption" data-testid="compare-pit-caption">
+              {pitCaption}
+            </p>
+          )}
+        </SectionState>
+      </section>
+    </div>
+  )
+}

frontend/src/components/Meaning.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
+import '../styles/meaning.css'
+
+export interface MeaningProps {
+  value: ReactNode
+  meaning?: string | null
+  /** Long-form explanation for the native tooltip; falls back to meaning. */
+  title?: string | null
+  tone?: 'good' | 'bad' | 'neutral' | 'warn'
+}
+
+export function Meaning({ value, meaning, title, tone }: MeaningProps) {
+  if (!meaning) {
+    return <>{value}</>
+  }
+
+  const tooltip = title ?? meaning
+  const toneClass = tone ? `meaning-caption--${tone}` : ''
+
+  return (
+    <span className="meaning" title={tooltip}>
+      <span className="meaning-value">{value}</span>
+      <span className={`meaning-caption ${toneClass}`.trim()}>{meaning}</span>
+    </span>
+  )
+}

frontend/src/components/TabBar.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ export type Tab =
   | 'overview'
   | 'race_story'
   | 'strategy'
+  | 'compare'
   | 'lap_data'
   | 'conditions'
   | 'race_control'
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ const TABS: { id: Tab; label: string }[] = [
   { id: 'overview', label: 'Overview' },
   { id: 'race_story', label: 'Race Story' },
   { id: 'strategy', label: 'Strategy' },
+  { id: 'compare', label: 'Compare' },
   { id: 'lap_data', label: 'Lap Data' },
   { id: 'conditions', label: 'Conditions' },
   { id: 'race_control', label: 'Race Control' },

frontend/src/components/live/EventRail.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { useAutoAnimate } from '@formkit/auto-animate/react'
+import {
+  Flag,
+  LogOut,
+  Megaphone,
+  OctagonX,
+  Swords,
+  Timer,
+  TrendingDown,
+  TrendingUp,
+  Wrench,
+  Zap,
+} from 'lucide-react'
+import type { LucideIcon } from 'lucide-react'
+import type { LiveDriverInfo } from '../../types'
+import type { LiveEvent, LiveEventKind } from '../../lib/events'
+import { teamColor } from '../../utils'
+import '../../styles/event-rail.css'
+
+interface Props {
+  events: LiveEvent[]
+  driverInfo?: Record<string, LiveDriverInfo>
+}
+
+const KIND_ICONS: Record<LiveEventKind, LucideIcon> = {
+  overtake: Swords,
+  'position-gain': TrendingUp,
+  'position-loss': TrendingDown,
+  'pit-in': Wrench,
+  'pit-out': LogOut,
+  'personal-best': Timer,
+  'fastest-lap': Zap,
+  retirement: OctagonX,
+  'track-status': Flag,
+  'race-control': Megaphone,
+}
+
+export function EventRail({ events, driverInfo }: Props) {
+  const [listRef] = useAutoAnimate<HTMLDivElement>()
+
+  return (
+    <section className="event-rail panel-glass" data-testid="event-rail">
+      <div className="sec-header sticky-header">
+        <span className="sec-title">What Just Happened</span>
+        {events.length > 0 && <span className="sec-meta">{events.length} events</span>}
+      </div>
+      {events.length === 0 ? (
+        <div className="missing-notice">Events will appear here as the session unfolds.</div>
+      ) : (
+        <div className="event-rail-list" ref={listRef}>
+          {events.map((event) => {
+            const Icon = KIND_ICONS[event.kind] ?? Megaphone
+            const colour = driverInfo?.[event.racingNumbers[0]]?.TeamColour
+            const accent = event.racingNumbers.length > 0 ? teamColor(colour) : 'var(--border-2)'
+            return (
+              <div className={`event-rail-row event-kind-${event.kind}`} key={event.id} style={{ borderLeftColor: accent }}>
+                <span className="event-rail-icon" aria-hidden="true">
+                  <Icon size={14} />
+                </span>
+                <div className="event-rail-body">
+                  <span className="event-rail-headline">{event.headline}</span>
+                  {event.detail && <span className="event-rail-detail">{event.detail}</span>}
+                </div>
+                {event.lap > 0 && <span className="event-rail-lap">L{event.lap}</span>}
+              </div>
+            )
+          })}
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </section>
+  )
+}

frontend/src/components/live/TimingTower.tsx

@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ import {
   tyreLabel,
 } from '../../lib/live'
 import type { GapHistoryMap } from '../../lib/gapHistory'
+import { parseIntervalSeconds } from '../../lib/gapHistory'
+import { intervalMeaning } from '../../lib/meaning'
+import { Meaning } from '../Meaning'
 import { GapSparkline } from './GapSparkline'
 import { StintHistory } from './StintHistory'
 import { Pin } from 'lucide-react'
@@ -100,6 +103,10 @@ export function TimingTower({
             const showCutoffAfter = row.Position === sessionDisplay.cutoffPosition
 
             const gapText = gapMode === 'interval' && isRace ? (driver.Interval || driver.GapToLeader) : driver.GapToLeader
+            const intervalAnnotation =
+              gapMode === 'interval' && isRace && row.Position > 1
+                ? intervalMeaning(parseIntervalSeconds(gapText))
+                : null
 
             const renderSector = (idx: number) => {
               const sec = driver.Sectors?.[idx]
@@ -149,7 +156,14 @@ export function TimingTower({
                   <td className={driver.LastLapOB ? 'mono lap-ob' : driver.LastLapPB ? 'mono lap-pb' : 'mono'}>
                     {driver.LastLapTime || '-'}
                   </td>
-                  <td className="mono">{gapText || '-'}</td>
+                  <td className="mono">
+                    <Meaning
+                      value={gapText || '-'}
+                      meaning={intervalAnnotation?.caption}
+                      title={intervalAnnotation?.title}
+                      tone={intervalAnnotation?.tone}
+                    />
+                  </td>
                   
                   {isRace && (
                     <td className="spark-cell">

frontend/src/components/live/TyreDegPanel.tsx

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import {
   recordStintSamples,
   stintInputFromRow,
 } from '../../lib/tyredeg'
+import { tyreAgeMeaning } from '../../lib/meaning'
+import { Meaning } from '../Meaning'
 import '../../styles/tyredeg.css'
 
 const TOP_DRIVER_COUNT = 10
@@ -92,12 +94,20 @@ export function TyreDegPanel({ rows, sessionType, pinned }: Props) {
           {visible.map((row) => {
             const model = degradationModel(stints[row.RacingNumber]?.samples ?? [])
             const rejoin = isRace ? estimatePitRejoin(rows, row.RacingNumber) : null
+            const ageAnnotation = tyreAgeMeaning(row.Tyre?.Compound, row.Tyre?.Age)
             return (
               <div className="tyredeg-row" key={row.RacingNumber} data-testid="tyredeg-row">
                 <span className="tyredeg-pos mono">P{row.Position}</span>
                 <span className="drv-bar" style={{ background: teamColor(row.Info?.TeamColour) }} />
                 <span className="drv-code">{driverCode(row)}</span>
-                <span className={`tyre-badge ${compoundClass(row.Tyre?.Compound)}`}>{tyreLabel(row.Tyre)}</span>
+                <span className={`tyre-badge ${compoundClass(row.Tyre?.Compound)}`}>
+                  <Meaning
+                    value={tyreLabel(row.Tyre)}
+                    meaning={ageAnnotation?.caption}
+                    title={ageAnnotation?.title}
+                    tone={ageAnnotation?.tone}
+                  />
+                </span>
                 {model ? (
                   <>
                     <span className={`tyredeg-trend tyredeg-trend-${model.trend}`}>

frontend/src/lib/compare.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+// Driver comparison mapping — pure functions for telemetry traces and lap deltas.
+
+import type { TelemetryTraceSeries } from '../components/charts/TelemetryTraceChart'
+import type { DeltaSeries } from '../lib/delta'
+import type {
+  CarDataSample,
+  ComparisonLap,
+  Driver,
+  EnrichedResult,
+  LapsComparisonResponse,
+} from '../types'
+import { compareFinishPosition, teamColor } from '../utils'
+
+function sortDriversByResults(drivers: Driver[], results: EnrichedResult[]): Driver[] {
+  const order = new Map(
+    [...results]
+      .filter((r) => r.position > 0)
+      .sort((a, b) => compareFinishPosition(a.position, b.position))
+      .map((r, i) => [r.driver_number, i]),
+  )
+  return [...drivers].sort((a, b) => {
+    const ao = order.get(a.driver_number) ?? 999
+    const bo = order.get(b.driver_number) ?? 999
+    if (ao !== bo) return ao - bo
+    return a.driver_number - b.driver_number
+  })
+}
+
+/** Default compare pair: top two classified finishers, else first two session drivers. */
+export function defaultCompareDriverNumbers(
+  results: EnrichedResult[],
+  drivers: Driver[],
+): [number, number] | null {
+  const classified = [...results]
+    .filter((r) => r.position > 0)
+    .sort((a, b) => compareFinishPosition(a.position, b.position))
+
+  if (classified.length >= 2) {
+    return [classified[0].driver_number, classified[1].driver_number]
+  }
+
+  if (drivers.length >= 2) {
+    const sorted = sortDriversByResults(drivers, results)
+    return [sorted[0].driver_number, sorted[1].driver_number]
+  }
+
+  if (classified.length === 1 && drivers.length >= 1) {
+    const other = drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number !== classified[0].driver_number)
+    if (other) return [classified[0].driver_number, other.driver_number]
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+/** Lap records → per-lap duration array (index 0 = lap 1); null for pit/out laps. */
+export function lapsToLapTimes(laps: ComparisonLap[]): (number | null)[] {
+  if (laps.length === 0) return []
+
+  const maxLap = laps.reduce((max, lap) => Math.max(max, lap.lap_number), 0)
+  const times: (number | null)[] = Array.from({ length: maxLap }, () => null)
+
+  for (const lap of laps) {
+    const idx = lap.lap_number - 1
+    if (idx < 0) continue
+    if (lap.is_pit_out_lap || lap.lap_duration == null || lap.lap_duration <= 0) {
+      times[idx] = null
+    } else {
+      times[idx] = lap.lap_duration
+    }
+  }
+
+  return times
+}
+
+export function findBestLap(laps: ComparisonLap[]): ComparisonLap | null {
+  let best: ComparisonLap | null = null
+  for (const lap of laps) {
+    if (lap.lap_duration == null || lap.lap_duration <= 0) continue
+    if (!best || (best.lap_duration ?? Infinity) > lap.lap_duration) {
+      best = lap
+    }
+  }
+  return best
+}
+
+/** Keep car-data samples whose timestamps fall within a lap window. */
+export function filterCarDataToLap(
+  samples: CarDataSample[],
+  lap: ComparisonLap,
+): CarDataSample[] {
+  if (!lap.date_start || samples.length === 0) return samples
+
+  const start = new Date(lap.date_start).getTime()
+  if (!Number.isFinite(start)) return samples
+
+  const end = start + (lap.lap_duration ?? 0) * 1000 + 500
+
+  return samples.filter((s) => {
+    const t = new Date(s.date).getTime()
+    return Number.isFinite(t) && t >= start && t <= end
+  })
+}
+
+export function carDataToTraceSeries(
+  samples: CarDataSample[],
+  label: string,
+  color: string,
+): TelemetryTraceSeries {
+  return {
+    label,
+    color,
+    samples: samples.map((s) => ({
+      speed: s.speed,
+      throttle: s.throttle,
+      brake: s.brake,
+    })),
+  }
+}
+
+export function buildBestLapTraceSeries(
+  carData: CarDataSample[],
+  laps: ComparisonLap[],
+  label: string,
+  color: string,
+): TelemetryTraceSeries | null {
+  const best = findBestLap(laps)
+  if (!best) return null
+
+  const filtered = filterCarDataToLap(carData, best)
+  if (filtered.length === 0) return null
+
+  return carDataToTraceSeries(filtered, label, color)
+}
+
+function driverMeta(
+  driverNumber: number,
+  comparison: LapsComparisonResponse | undefined,
+  drivers: Driver[],
+): { label: string; color: string; laps: ComparisonLap[] } {
+  const comp = comparison?.drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number === driverNumber)
+  const session = drivers.find((d) => d.driver_number === driverNumber)
+  return {
+    label: comp?.name_acronym || session?.name_acronym || `#${driverNumber}`,
+    color: teamColor(comp?.team_colour || session?.team_colour),
+    laps: comp?.laps ?? [],
+  }
+}
+
+export function comparisonToDeltaSeries(
+  comparison: LapsComparisonResponse,
+  driverNumbers: [number, number],
+  drivers: Driver[],
+): DeltaSeries[] {
+  return driverNumbers.map((dn) => {
+    const meta = driverMeta(dn, comparison, drivers)
+    return {
+      label: meta.label,
+      color: meta.color,
+      lapTimes: lapsToLapTimes(meta.laps),
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+export function formatPitLapsCaption(
+  pitLaps: Record<string, number[]>,
+  driverNumbers: [number, number],
+  comparison: LapsComparisonResponse | undefined,
+  drivers: Driver[],
+): string | null {
+  const parts: string[] = []
+
+  for (const dn of driverNumbers) {
+    const laps = pitLaps[String(dn)]
+    if (!laps?.length) continue
+    const meta = driverMeta(dn, comparison, drivers)
+    parts.push(`${meta.label}: L${laps.join(', L')}`)
+  }
+
+  return parts.length > 0 ? `Pit stops — ${parts.join(' · ')}` : null
+}
+
+export function compareDriverOptions(
+  drivers: Driver[],
+  results: EnrichedResult[],
+): Driver[] {
+  if (drivers.length > 0) {
+    return sortDriversByResults(drivers, results)
+  }
+  return results.map((r) => ({
+    driver_number: r.driver_number,
+    name_acronym: r.name_acronym,
+    full_name: r.full_name,
+    first_name: '',
+    last_name: '',
+    team_name: r.team_name,
+    team_colour: r.team_colour,
+    headshot_url: '',
+    broadcast_name: r.full_name,
+    session_key: r.session_key,
+    meeting_key: r.meeting_key,
+  }))
+}

frontend/src/lib/events.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,318 @@
+// "What just happened" event synthesis for the live page.
+// Pure functions only — no React, no side effects — so everything is unit-testable.
+// Mirrors the gapHistory/battles precedent: successive LiveStreamData snapshots
+// in, typed events out; the page owns the buffer, this module owns the diffing.
+
+import type {
+  LiveDriverData,
+  LiveRCMessage,
+  LiveSessionMeta,
+  LiveStreamData,
+} from '../types'
+
+export const MAX_EVENTS = 30
+
+export type LiveEventKind =
+  | 'overtake'
+  | 'position-gain'
+  | 'position-loss'
+  | 'pit-in'
+  | 'pit-out'
+  | 'personal-best'
+  | 'fastest-lap'
+  | 'retirement'
+  | 'track-status'
+  | 'race-control'
+
+export interface LiveEvent {
+  id: string
+  kind: LiveEventKind
+  lap: number
+  timestamp: string
+  headline: string
+  detail?: string
+  racingNumbers: string[]
+}
+
+/**
+ * Identity of the running session, used to reset the event buffer when a new
+ * session starts. LiveSessionMeta carries no numeric session key, so the
+ * meeting + session name/type triple stands in for one.
+ */
+export function sessionSignature(session: LiveSessionMeta | null | undefined): string {
+  if (!session) return ''
+  return [session.MeetingName, session.SessionName, session.SessionType].join('|')
+}
+
+/**
+ * Prepend freshly diffed events onto the newest-first buffer, dropping any
+ * whose id is already present (re-renders and replayed diffs must not
+ * duplicate) and evicting the oldest events beyond `cap`.
+ */
+export function appendEvents(
+  buffer: ReadonlyArray<LiveEvent>,
+  incoming: ReadonlyArray<LiveEvent>,
+  cap = MAX_EVENTS,
+): LiveEvent[] {
+  const seen = new Set(buffer.map((event) => event.id))
+  const fresh = incoming.filter((event) => {
+    if (seen.has(event.id)) return false
+    seen.add(event.id)
+    return true
+  })
+  if (fresh.length === 0) return [...buffer]
+  // Within one diff the array is oldest-first; reverse so the last-produced
+  // event ends up at the top of the newest-first rail.
+  return [...fresh.reverse(), ...buffer].slice(0, cap)
+}
+
+const TRACK_STATUS_HEADLINES: Record<string, string> = {
+  '1': 'Green flag — track clear',
+  '2': 'Yellow flag',
+  '4': 'Safety Car deployed',
+  '5': 'Red flag — session stopped',
+  '6': 'Virtual Safety Car deployed',
+  '7': 'Virtual Safety Car ending',
+}
+
+const RC_CATEGORIES = new Set(['flag', 'safetycar', 'drs'])
+
+/**
+ * Diff two successive live snapshots into a chronological list of synthesized
+ * events. Callers are expected to feed genuinely consecutive snapshots of the
+ * same session; diffing across a session boundary is the caller's job to
+ * prevent (see sessionSignature).
+ */
+export function diffSnapshots(prev: LiveStreamData, next: LiveStreamData): LiveEvent[] {
+  if (!prev || !next || prev === next) return []
+
+  const events: LiveEvent[] = []
+  const lap = next.CurrentLap || 0
+  const timestamp = next.Clock || ''
+  const code = (racingNumber: string): string =>
+    next.DriverInfo?.[racingNumber]?.Tla ||
+    prev.DriverInfo?.[racingNumber]?.Tla ||
+    `#${racingNumber}`
+
+  diffTrackStatus(prev, next, lap, timestamp, events)
+  diffRaceControl(prev, next, events)
+
+  const prevDrivers = prev.Drivers ?? {}
+  const nextDrivers = next.Drivers ?? {}
+  const numbers = Object.keys(nextDrivers).filter((number) => prevDrivers[number])
+
+  // Racing numbers whose position loss is already explained by an overtake
+  // event, so we don't also report a generic "drops to Pn".
+  const overtakenNumbers = new Set<string>()
+
+  for (const number of numbers) {
+    const before = prevDrivers[number]
+    const after = nextDrivers[number]
+
+    if (!before.Retired && after.Retired) {
+      events.push({
+        id: `ret:${number}`,
+        kind: 'retirement',
+        lap,
+        timestamp,
+        headline: `${code(number)} retires`,
+        detail: before.Position > 0 ? `Was running P${before.Position}` : undefined,
+        racingNumbers: [number],
+      })
+    }
+
+    if (!before.InPit && after.InPit && !after.Retired) {
+      const fromPosition = before.Position > 0 ? ` from P${before.Position}` : ''
+      events.push({
+        id: `pit-in:${number}:l${lap}`,
+        kind: 'pit-in',
+        lap,
+        timestamp,
+        headline: `${code(number)} pits${fromPosition}`,
+        racingNumbers: [number],
+      })
+    }
+
+    if (before.InPit && !after.InPit && !after.Retired) {
+      const compound = next.Tyres?.[number]?.Compound || ''
+      const stops = Math.max(0, (next.Stints?.[number]?.length ?? 0) - 1)
+      const parts = [compound, stops > 0 ? `${ordinal(stops)} stop` : ''].filter(Boolean)
+      const rejoined = after.Position > 0 ? ` P${after.Position}` : ''
+      events.push({
+        id: `pit-out:${number}:l${lap}`,
+        kind: 'pit-out',
+        lap,
+        timestamp,
+        headline: `${code(number)} rejoins${rejoined}${parts.length > 0 ? ` (${parts.join(', ')})` : ''}`,
+        racingNumbers: [number],
+      })
+    }
+
+    diffBestLap(number, before, after, code, lap, timestamp, events)
+  }
+
+  // Position gains, with overtake attribution via position swaps.
+  for (const number of numbers) {
+    const before = prevDrivers[number]
+    const after = nextDrivers[number]
+    if (before.Position <= 0 || after.Position <= 0) continue
+    if (after.Position >= before.Position) continue
+    if (after.InPit || after.Retired) continue
+
+    const overtaken = numbers.find((other) => {
+      if (other === number) return false
+      const otherBefore = prevDrivers[other]
+      const otherAfter = nextDrivers[other]
+      return (
+        otherBefore.Position === after.Position &&
+        otherAfter.Position > otherBefore.Position &&
+        !otherAfter.InPit &&
+        !otherAfter.Retired
+      )
+    })
+
+    if (overtaken) {
+      overtakenNumbers.add(overtaken)
+      events.push({
+        id: `overtake:${number}:${overtaken}:p${after.Position}:l${lap}`,
+        kind: 'overtake',
+        lap,
+        timestamp,
+        headline: `${code(number)} overtakes ${code(overtaken)} for P${after.Position}`,
+        detail: before.Position - after.Position > 1 ? `Up from P${before.Position}` : undefined,
+        racingNumbers: [number, overtaken],
+      })
+    } else {
+      events.push({
+        id: `pos:${number}:${before.Position}-${after.Position}:l${lap}`,
+        kind: 'position-gain',
+        lap,
+        timestamp,
+        headline: `${code(number)} moves up to P${after.Position} (from P${before.Position})`,
+        racingNumbers: [number],
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Position losses not already explained by an overtake or a pit visit.
+  for (const number of numbers) {
+    const before = prevDrivers[number]
+    const after = nextDrivers[number]
+    if (before.Position <= 0 || after.Position <= 0) continue
+    if (after.Position <= before.Position) continue
+    if (overtakenNumbers.has(number)) continue
+    if (after.InPit || after.PitOut || after.Retired || before.InPit) continue
+
+    events.push({
+      id: `pos:${number}:${before.Position}-${after.Position}:l${lap}`,
+      kind: 'position-loss',
+      lap,
+      timestamp,
+      headline: `${code(number)} drops to P${after.Position} (from P${before.Position})`,
+      racingNumbers: [number],
+    })
+  }
+
+  return events
+}
+
+function diffTrackStatus(
+  prev: LiveStreamData,
+  next: LiveStreamData,
+  lap: number,
+  timestamp: string,
+  events: LiveEvent[],
+): void {
+  if (!prev.TrackStatus || !next.TrackStatus) return
+  if (prev.TrackStatus === next.TrackStatus) return
+  events.push({
+    id: `track:${next.TrackStatus}:l${lap}`,
+    kind: 'track-status',
+    lap,
+    timestamp,
+    headline: TRACK_STATUS_HEADLINES[next.TrackStatus] ?? `Track status ${next.TrackStatus}`,
+    racingNumbers: [],
+  })
+}
+
+function diffRaceControl(prev: LiveStreamData, next: LiveStreamData, events: LiveEvent[]): void {
+  const prevMessages = prev.RCMessages ?? []
+  const seen = new Set(prevMessages.map(rcMessageKey))
+  for (const message of next.RCMessages ?? []) {
+    if (!message.Message || seen.has(rcMessageKey(message))) continue
+    if (!RC_CATEGORIES.has((message.Category || '').toLowerCase())) continue
+    events.push({
+      id: `rc:${rcMessageKey(message)}`,
+      kind: 'race-control',
+      lap: message.Lap || 0,
+      timestamp: message.Time || '',
+      headline: humanizeRaceControl(message.Message),
+      racingNumbers: carNumbersIn(message.Message),
+    })
+  }
+}
+
+function diffBestLap(
+  number: string,
+  before: LiveDriverData,
+  after: LiveDriverData,
+  code: (racingNumber: string) => string,
+  lap: number,
+  timestamp: string,
+  events: LiveEvent[],
+): void {
+  if (!after.LastLapTime) return
+  const isNewLap = after.LastLapTime !== before.LastLapTime
+
+  if (after.LastLapOB && (isNewLap || !before.LastLapOB)) {
+    events.push({
+      id: `ob:${number}:${after.LastLapTime}`,
+      kind: 'fastest-lap',
+      lap,
+      timestamp,
+      headline: `${code(number)} sets the fastest lap — ${after.LastLapTime}`,
+      racingNumbers: [number],
+    })
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (after.LastLapPB && !after.LastLapOB && (isNewLap || !before.LastLapPB)) {
+    events.push({
+      id: `pb:${number}:${after.LastLapTime}`,
+      kind: 'personal-best',
+      lap,
+      timestamp,
+      headline: `${code(number)} sets a personal best — ${after.LastLapTime}`,
+      racingNumbers: [number],
+    })
+  }
+}
+
+function rcMessageKey(message: LiveRCMessage): string {
+  return `${message.Time}:${message.Message}`
+}
+
+/** "SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED" -> "Safety car deployed", keeping known acronyms upper-cased. */
+export function humanizeRaceControl(message: string): string {
+  const lower = message.trim().toLowerCase()
+  if (!lower) return ''
+  const sentence = lower.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + lower.slice(1)
+  return sentence.replace(/\b(drs|vsc|sc|fia)\b/gi, (acronym) => acronym.toUpperCase())
+}
+
+function carNumbersIn(message: string): string[] {
+  const numbers: string[] = []
+  for (const match of message.matchAll(/CAR (\d+)/gi)) {
+    if (!numbers.includes(match[1])) numbers.push(match[1])
+  }
+  return numbers
+}
+
+function ordinal(n: number): string {
+  const rem10 = n % 10
+  const rem100 = n % 100
+  if (rem10 === 1 && rem100 !== 11) return `${n}st`
+  if (rem10 === 2 && rem100 !== 12) return `${n}nd`
+  if (rem10 === 3 && rem100 !== 13) return `${n}rd`
+  return `${n}th`
+}

frontend/src/lib/meaning.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+// Pure interpretation helpers for pairing numbers with their "so-what".
+// Thresholds are exported consts so they are cheap to tune in one place.
+
+import { PIT_LOSS_SECONDS } from './tyredeg'
+
+/** Gaps under this (seconds) are DRS attack range. */
+export const INTERVAL_DRS_MAX_SECONDS = 1.0
+
+/** Lower bound of the undercut window (seconds); contiguous with DRS range. */
+export const INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MIN_SECONDS = INTERVAL_DRS_MAX_SECONDS
+
+/**
+ * Upper bound of the undercut window (seconds). Kept well below typical pit
+ * loss ({@link PIT_LOSS_SECONDS}s) — only a few seconds matter for strategy.
+ */
+export const INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MAX_SECONDS = Math.min(3.0, PIT_LOSS_SECONDS / 7)
+
+/**
+ * Rough per-compound cliff lap estimates (dry compounds). Wet/intermediate
+ * values are conservative — deg varies wildly with conditions.
+ */
+export const TYRE_CLIFF_LAPS: Readonly<Record<string, number>> = {
+  SOFT: 18,
+  MEDIUM: 28,
+  HARD: 38,
+  INTERMEDIATE: 20,
+  WET: 15,
+}
+
+/** Default cliff when compound is unknown. */
+export const TYRE_CLIFF_DEFAULT_LAPS = 25
+
+/** Championship max points per race (winner). */
+export const MAX_POINTS_PER_ROUND = 25
+
+export interface MeaningAnnotation {
+  caption: string
+  title: string
+  tone?: 'good' | 'bad' | 'neutral' | 'warn'
+}
+
+function cliffLaps(compound: string | null | undefined): number {
+  if (!compound) return TYRE_CLIFF_DEFAULT_LAPS
+  return TYRE_CLIFF_LAPS[compound.toUpperCase()] ?? TYRE_CLIFF_DEFAULT_LAPS
+}
+
+/**
+ * Interval / gap-to-ahead meaning for the live timing tower.
+ * Returns null for leader gaps, out-of-range values, or unparsable input.
+ */
+export function intervalMeaning(seconds: number | null | undefined): MeaningAnnotation | null {
+  if (seconds == null || !Number.isFinite(seconds) || seconds < 0) return null
+
+  if (seconds < INTERVAL_DRS_MAX_SECONDS) {
+    return {
+      caption: 'DRS range',
+      title: `Within ${INTERVAL_DRS_MAX_SECONDS}s — DRS enabled next straight`,
+      tone: 'good',
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (seconds >= INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MIN_SECONDS && seconds <= INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MAX_SECONDS) {
+    return {
+      caption: 'undercut window',
+      title: `${INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MIN_SECONDS}–${INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MAX_SECONDS}s — pit now could gain a position (vs ~${PIT_LOSS_SECONDS}s stop)`,
+      tone: 'warn',
+    }
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+/**
+ * Tyre-age meaning for deg / stint panels.
+ */
+export function tyreAgeMeaning(
+  compound: string | null | undefined,
+  age: number | null | undefined,
+): MeaningAnnotation | null {
+  if (age == null || !Number.isFinite(age) || age < 0) return null
+
+  const cliff = cliffLaps(compound)
+  const freshEnd = Math.ceil(cliff * 0.25)
+  const midEnd = Math.ceil(cliff * 0.65)
+
+  if (age <= freshEnd) {
+    return {
+      caption: 'fresh',
+      title: `${age} lap${age === 1 ? '' : 's'} on ${compound ?? 'tyre'} — early stint grip`,
+      tone: 'good',
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (age <= midEnd) {
+    return {
+      caption: 'mid-life',
+      title: `${age} laps — tyre in its working window before cliff (~${cliff} laps)`,
+      tone: 'neutral',
+    }
+  }
+
+  const lapsToCliff = cliff - age
+  if (lapsToCliff <= 0) {
+    return {
+      caption: 'past cliff',
+      title: `${age} laps — beyond typical ${compound ?? 'tyre'} cliff (~${cliff} laps)`,
+      tone: 'bad',
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    caption: `~${lapsToCliff} laps to cliff`,
+    title: `${age} of ~${cliff} laps before deg cliff on ${compound ?? 'tyre'}`,
+    tone: 'warn',
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Points gap to the driver directly ahead — catchable-or-not v1.
+ */
+export function pointsGapMeaning(
+  gapToAhead: number | null | undefined,
+  roundsLeft: number,
+  driverAhead?: string | null,
+): MeaningAnnotation | null {
+  if (gapToAhead == null || !Number.isFinite(gapToAhead) || gapToAhead <= 0) return null
+  if (!Number.isFinite(roundsLeft) || roundsLeft <= 0) return null
+
+  const maxCatchable = roundsLeft * MAX_POINTS_PER_ROUND
+  const ahead = driverAhead?.trim() || 'ahead'
+
+  if (gapToAhead > maxCatchable) {
+    return {
+      caption: 'out of reach',
+      title: `+${gapToAhead} pts with ${roundsLeft} round${roundsLeft === 1 ? '' : 's'} left (max ${maxCatchable} available)`,
+      tone: 'bad',
+    }
+  }
+
+  const perRound = Math.ceil(gapToAhead / roundsLeft)
+  return {
+    caption: `~${perRound} pts/round`,
+    title: `Needs ~${perRound} pts per round on ${ahead} to catch (${gapToAhead} pts in ${roundsLeft} round${roundsLeft === 1 ? '' : 's'})`,
+    tone: perRound <= 10 ? 'good' : 'warn',
+  }
+}

frontend/src/pages/ChampionshipPage.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { fetchChampionshipHub, fetchSeasons } from '../api'
 import { teamColor } from '../utils'
 import type { ChampHubDriver, ChampionshipHub } from '../types'
 import { ChampionshipSimulator } from '../components/ChampionshipSimulator'
+import { Meaning } from '../components/Meaning'
+import { pointsGapMeaning } from '../lib/meaning'
 
 type View = 'drivers' | 'constructors' | 'progression' | 'simulator'
 
@@ -138,6 +140,8 @@ function ChampionshipBody({ hub, view, setView }: BodyProps) {
           color: teamColor(d.team_colour),
           gapLeader: i === 0 ? 'LEADER' : `+${fmtPts(gapLeaderNum)}`,
           gapAhead: gapAheadNum == null ? '—' : `+${fmtPts(gapAheadNum)}`,
+          gapAheadNum,
+          driverAhead: i === 0 ? null : drivers[i - 1].name_acronym,
           spark: sparkPoints(d.form),
           h2h: `${d.teammate_wins}–${d.teammate_losses}`,
           h2hWin: d.teammate_wins >= d.teammate_losses,
@@ -233,7 +237,12 @@ function ChampionshipBody({ hub, view, setView }: BodyProps) {
       </div>
 
       {view === 'drivers' && (
-        <DriversView enriched={enriched} leaderPoints={leader.points} titleMath={titleMath} />
+        <DriversView
+          enriched={enriched}
+          leaderPoints={leader.points}
+          titleMath={titleMath}
+          roundsLeft={hub.rounds_left}
+        />
       )}
       {view === 'constructors' && <ConstructorsView hub={hub} />}
       {view === 'progression' && <ProgressionView hub={hub} />}
@@ -248,6 +257,8 @@ interface EnrichedDriver {
   color: string
   gapLeader: string
   gapAhead: string
+  gapAheadNum: number | null
+  driverAhead: string | null
   spark: string
   h2h: string
   h2hWin: boolean
@@ -259,10 +270,12 @@ function DriversView({
   enriched,
   leaderPoints,
   titleMath,
+  roundsLeft,
 }: {
   enriched: EnrichedDriver[]
   leaderPoints: number
   titleMath: string
+  roundsLeft: number
 }) {
   const podium = enriched.slice(0, 3)
   return (
@@ -357,7 +370,19 @@ function DriversView({
                 <td className="champ-td-team">{e.d.team_name}</td>
                 <td className="r mono champ-td-pts">{fmtPts(e.d.points)}</td>
                 <td className="r mono champ-td-muted">{e.gapLeader}</td>
-                <td className="r mono champ-td-dim">{e.gapAhead}</td>
+                <td className="r mono champ-td-dim">
+                  {(() => {
+                    const gapAnnotation = pointsGapMeaning(e.gapAheadNum, roundsLeft, e.driverAhead)
+                    return (
+                      <Meaning
+                        value={e.gapAhead}
+                        meaning={gapAnnotation?.caption}
+                        title={gapAnnotation?.title}
+                        tone={gapAnnotation?.tone}
+                      />
+                    )
+                  })()}
+                </td>
                 <td className="c mono" style={{ color: e.d.wins > 0 ? 'var(--text)' : 'var(--text-3)' }}>
                   {e.d.wins}
                 </td>

frontend/src/pages/LiveTimingPage.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { fetchLiveState, fetchLiveTrackOutline } from '../api'
 import type { LivePosition, LiveStreamData } from '../types'
@@ -15,12 +15,15 @@ import type { VisibleSectorState } from '../lib/live'
 import type { GapHistoryMap } from '../lib/gapHistory'
 import { recordGapSamples } from '../lib/gapHistory'
 import { battleNumbers, detectBattles } from '../lib/battles'
+import type { LiveEvent } from '../lib/events'
+import { appendEvents, diffSnapshots, sessionSignature } from '../lib/events'
 import { SessionBanner } from '../components/live/SessionBanner'
 import { TrackStatusBanner } from '../components/live/TrackStatusBanner'
 import { TimingTower } from '../components/live/TimingTower'
 import { BattleChips } from '../components/live/BattleChips'
 import { PinnedDrivers } from '../components/live/PinnedDrivers'
 import { RaceControlFeed } from '../components/live/RaceControlFeed'
+import { EventRail } from '../components/live/EventRail'
 import { TeamRadioTicker } from '../components/live/TeamRadioTicker'
 import { TrackMap } from '../components/live/TrackMap'
 import { TyreDegPanel } from '../components/live/TyreDegPanel'
@@ -37,6 +40,9 @@ export function LiveTimingPage() {
   const [pinned, setPinned] = useState<string[]>(() => loadPinnedDrivers())
   const [visibleSectors, setVisibleSectors] = useState<VisibleSectorState>({})
   const [positions, setPositions] = useState<Record<string, LivePosition>>({})
+  const [events, setEvents] = useState<LiveEvent[]>([])
+  const prevSnapshotRef = useRef<LiveStreamData | null>(null)
+  const sessionSigRef = useRef('')
 
   const { data, isLoading, isError, error } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ['live-state'],
@@ -114,6 +120,23 @@ export function LiveTimingPage() {
     }
   }, [])
 
+  // Synthesize "what just happened" events from successive snapshots; the
+  // buffer resets whenever a different session starts streaming.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!snapshot) return
+    const signature = sessionSignature(snapshot.Session)
+    const prev = prevSnapshotRef.current
+    prevSnapshotRef.current = snapshot
+    if (signature !== sessionSigRef.current) {
+      sessionSigRef.current = signature
+      setEvents([])
+      return
+    }
+    if (!prev || prev === snapshot) return
+    const fresh = diffSnapshots(prev, snapshot)
+    if (fresh.length > 0) setEvents((current) => appendEvents(current, fresh))
+  }, [snapshot])
+
   const rawRows = useMemo(() => sortLiveTimingRows(snapshot), [snapshot])
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -220,6 +243,7 @@ export function LiveTimingPage() {
                 session={snapshot.Session}
               />
               <RaceControlFeed messages={snapshot.RCMessages ?? []} driverInfo={snapshot.DriverInfo} />
+              <EventRail events={events} driverInfo={snapshot.DriverInfo} />
             </div>
           </div>
         </>

frontend/src/pages/RaceHubPage.tsx

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { TabBar, type Tab } from '../components/TabBar'
 import { DatasetStatusView } from '../components/DatasetStatusView'
 import { StrategyView } from '../components/StrategyView'
 import { LapsView } from '../components/LapsView'
+import { CompareView } from '../components/CompareView'
 import { RaceControlView } from '../components/RaceControlView'
 import { WeatherView } from '../components/WeatherView'
 import { OverviewView } from '../components/OverviewView'
@@ -307,6 +308,19 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
         </div>
       )}
 
+      {activeTab === 'compare' && (
+        <div className="data-section">
+          <div className="sec-header">
+            <span className="sec-title">Driver Compare</span>
+          </div>
+          <CompareView
+            sessionKey={sessionKey}
+            results={data.results}
+            drivers={data.drivers}
+          />
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {activeTab === 'lap_data' && (
         <div className="data-section">
           <div className="sec-header">

frontend/src/styles/compare-view.css

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+.compare-view {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--s5);
+}
+
+.compare-pickers {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: var(--s4);
+  align-items: flex-end;
+}
+
+.compare-picker {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--s3);
+  min-width: 180px;
+}
+
+.compare-picker-label {
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--text-3);
+}
+
+.compare-picker-select {
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  padding: var(--s2) var(--s3);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: var(--r1);
+  background: var(--surface-2);
+  color: var(--text);
+}
+
+.compare-picker-select:focus {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--gp-accent, var(--red));
+  outline-offset: 1px;
+}
+
+.compare-section {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--s3);
+}
+
+.compare-section-title {
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--text-2);
+}
+
+.compare-section-meta {
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: var(--text-3);
+}
+
+.compare-pit-caption {
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: var(--text-3);
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.compare-stale-notice {
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: var(--amber, #f59e0b);
+  background: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.08);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.25);
+  border-radius: var(--r1);
+  padding: var(--s2) var(--s3);
+}

frontend/src/styles/event-rail.css

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/* ── "What just happened" event rail (live page) ── */
+
+.event-rail {
+  margin-top: var(--s5);
+}
+
+.event-rail-list {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--s3);
+  padding-top: var(--s4);
+}
+
+.event-rail-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: var(--s4);
+  padding: var(--s3) var(--s4);
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--border-2);
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
+  border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;
+}
+
+.event-rail-icon {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  color: var(--text-2);
+  padding-top: 1px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.event-kind-fastest-lap .event-rail-icon { color: var(--purple); }
+.event-kind-personal-best .event-rail-icon { color: var(--green); }
+.event-kind-overtake .event-rail-icon,
+.event-kind-position-gain .event-rail-icon { color: var(--green); }
+.event-kind-position-loss .event-rail-icon { color: var(--yellow); }
+.event-kind-retirement .event-rail-icon,
+.event-kind-track-status .event-rail-icon { color: var(--red); }
+.event-kind-pit-in .event-rail-icon,
+.event-kind-pit-out .event-rail-icon { color: var(--blue); }
+
+.event-rail-body {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--s1);
+  min-width: 0;
+  flex: 1;
+}
+
+.event-rail-headline {
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: var(--text);
+  line-height: 1.4;
+}
+
+.event-rail-detail {
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: var(--text-2);
+}
+
+.event-rail-lap {
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  font-size: 10px;
+  color: var(--text-3);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  padding-top: 2px;
+}

frontend/src/styles/meaning.css

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/* Compact value + muted meaning caption (issue #18). */
+
+.meaning {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: inherit;
+  gap: 1px;
+  line-height: 1.2;
+}
+
+.meaning-value {
+  /* inherits table cell mono styling from parent */
+}
+
+.meaning-caption {
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-family: var(--f-mono);
+  color: var(--text-3);
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+.meaning-caption--good {
+  color: var(--green);
+}
+
+.meaning-caption--bad {
+  color: var(--red);
+}
+
+.meaning-caption--warn {
+  color: var(--yellow, #e8c547);
+}
+
+.meaning-caption--neutral {
+  color: var(--text-3);
+}
+
+/* Table cells: right-align caption under numeric values */
+td.r .meaning,
+.champ-td-dim .meaning,
+.champ-td-muted .meaning {
+  align-items: flex-end;
+}
+
+.tyredeg-row .meaning {
+  align-items: flex-start;
+}

frontend/src/test/ChampionshipPage.test.tsx

@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ describe('ChampionshipPage', () => {
     expect(screen.getAllByText('VER').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
     expect(screen.getByText('Monaco GP', { exact: false })).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByTestId('champ-titlemath')).toHaveTextContent('mathematically win the title')
+    expect(screen.getAllByText('~10 pts/round').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
   })
 
   it('switches to constructors and progression views', async () => {

frontend/src/test/LiveComponents.test.tsx

@@ -189,6 +189,26 @@ describe('TimingTower', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(/no driver timing rows/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
+  it('annotates DRS-range intervals in race mode', () => {
+    const raceRows = [
+      makeRow('1', 1, 'VER'),
+      makeRow('4', 2, 'NOR', { Interval: '+0.4', GapToLeader: '+0.4' }),
+    ]
+    render(
+      <TimingTower
+        rows={raceRows}
+        session={{
+          MeetingName: 'Monaco Grand Prix',
+          CircuitName: 'Monaco',
+          SessionType: 'Race',
+          SessionName: 'Race',
+          Path: '',
+        }}
+      />,
+    )
+    expect(screen.getByText('DRS range')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
   it('renders the SQ1 cutoff after P17 and marks rows below as at risk', () => {
     const sprintRows = Array.from({ length: 22 }, (_, index) =>
       makeRow(String(index + 1), index + 1, `D${index + 1}`),

frontend/src/test/Meaning.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { Meaning } from '../components/Meaning'
+
+describe('Meaning', () => {
+  it('renders bare value when meaning is null', () => {
+    render(<Meaning value="+1.234" meaning={null} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText('+1.234')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('DRS range')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('renders value with caption and tooltip title', () => {
+    render(
+      <Meaning
+        value="+0.4"
+        meaning="DRS range"
+        title="Within 1.0s — DRS enabled next straight"
+        tone="good"
+      />,
+    )
+    const value = screen.getByText('+0.4')
+    expect(value).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByText('DRS range')).toHaveClass('meaning-caption--good')
+    expect(value.closest('.meaning')).toHaveAttribute('title', 'Within 1.0s — DRS enabled next straight')
+  })
+})

frontend/src/test/TabBar.test.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ describe('TabBar', () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Overview' })).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Race Story' })).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Strategy' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Compare' })).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Lap Data' })).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Conditions' })).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByRole('tab', { name: 'Race Control' })).toBeInTheDocument()

frontend/src/test/TyreDegPanel.test.tsx

@@ -52,9 +52,18 @@ describe('TyreDegPanel', () => {
     const panel = screen.getByTestId('tyredeg-panel')
     expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('VER')
     expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('M +5')
+    expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('fresh')
     expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('warming up')
   })
 
+  it('annotates tyre age meaning on stint rows', () => {
+    const rows = [
+      makeRow('1', 1, 'VER', { NumberOfLaps: 10, LastLapTime: '1:30.000' }, { Compound: 'MEDIUM', Age: 12 }),
+    ]
+    render(<TyreDegPanel rows={rows} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText('mid-life')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
   it('renders slope and rejoin estimate once laps accumulate across snapshots', () => {
     const { rerender } = render(
       <TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(1, '1:30.000')} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />,

frontend/src/test/compare-view.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,439 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import { CompareView } from '../components/CompareView'
+import type { Driver, EnrichedResult, LapsComparisonResponse } from '../types'
+import {
+  buildBestLapTraceSeries,
+  carDataToTraceSeries,
+  comparisonToDeltaSeries,
+  defaultCompareDriverNumbers,
+  filterCarDataToLap,
+  findBestLap,
+  formatPitLapsCaption,
+  lapsToLapTimes,
+} from '../lib/compare'
+import { computeCumulativeDeltas } from '../lib/delta'
+
+vi.mock('../api', () => ({
+  fetchTelemetry: vi.fn(),
+  fetchLapsComparison: vi.fn(),
+}))
+
+import { fetchTelemetry, fetchLapsComparison } from '../api'
+
+const mockFetchTelemetry = vi.mocked(fetchTelemetry)
+const mockFetchLapsComparison = vi.mocked(fetchLapsComparison)
+
+const results: EnrichedResult[] = [
+  {
+    driver_number: 1,
+    position: 1,
+    name_acronym: 'VER',
+    full_name: 'Max Verstappen',
+    team_name: 'Red Bull Racing',
+    team_colour: '3671C6',
+    dnf: false,
+    dns: false,
+    dsq: false,
+    duration: null,
+    gap_to_leader: null,
+    number_of_laps: 78,
+    points: 25,
+    session_key: 9472,
+    meeting_key: 1229,
+  },
+  {
+    driver_number: 44,
+    position: 2,
+    name_acronym: 'HAM',
+    full_name: 'Lewis Hamilton',
+    team_name: 'Ferrari',
+    team_colour: 'E8002D',
+    dnf: false,
+    dns: false,
+    dsq: false,
+    duration: null,
+    gap_to_leader: 5.1,
+    number_of_laps: 78,
+    points: 18,
+    session_key: 9472,
+    meeting_key: 1229,
+  },
+]
+
+const drivers: Driver[] = [
+  {
+    driver_number: 1,
+    name_acronym: 'VER',
+    full_name: 'Max Verstappen',
+    first_name: 'Max',
+    last_name: 'Verstappen',
+    team_name: 'Red Bull Racing',
+    team_colour: '3671C6',
+    headshot_url: '',
+    broadcast_name: 'M VERSTAPPEN',
+    session_key: 9472,
+    meeting_key: 1229,
+  },
+  {
+    driver_number: 44,
+    name_acronym: 'HAM',
+    full_name: 'Lewis Hamilton',
+    first_name: 'Lewis',
+    last_name: 'Hamilton',
+    team_name: 'Ferrari',
+    team_colour: 'E8002D',
+    headshot_url: '',
+    broadcast_name: 'L HAMILTON',
+    session_key: 9472,
+    meeting_key: 1229,
+  },
+]
+
+const comparison: LapsComparisonResponse = {
+  session_key: 9472,
+  sc_periods: [],
+  pit_laps: { '44': [19, 40] },
+  drivers: [
+    {
+      driver_number: 1,
+      name_acronym: 'VER',
+      team_colour: '3671C6',
+      laps: [
+        {
+          session_key: 9472,
+          driver_number: 1,
+          meeting_key: 1229,
+          lap_number: 1,
+          date_start: '2025-05-25T13:00:00.000Z',
+          lap_duration: 92.1,
+          is_pit_out_lap: false,
+        },
+        {
+          session_key: 9472,
+          driver_number: 1,
+          meeting_key: 1229,
+          lap_number: 2,
+          date_start: '2025-05-25T13:01:32.100Z',
+          lap_duration: 90.5,
+          is_pit_out_lap: false,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      driver_number: 44,
+      name_acronym: 'HAM',
+      team_colour: 'E8002D',
+      laps: [
+        {
+          session_key: 9472,
+          driver_number: 44,
+          meeting_key: 1229,
+          lap_number: 1,
+          date_start: '2025-05-25T13:00:01.000Z',
+          lap_duration: 93.0,
+          is_pit_out_lap: false,
+        },
+        {
+          session_key: 9472,
+          driver_number: 44,
+          meeting_key: 1229,
+          lap_number: 2,
+          date_start: '2025-05-25T13:01:34.000Z',
+          lap_duration: null,
+          is_pit_out_lap: true,
+        },
+        {
+          session_key: 9472,
+          driver_number: 44,
+          meeting_key: 1229,
+          lap_number: 3,
+          date_start: '2025-05-25T13:03:10.000Z',
+          lap_duration: 91.2,
+          is_pit_out_lap: false,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+  ],
+}
+
+const nextSessionResults: EnrichedResult[] = [
+  {
+    driver_number: 16,
+    position: 1,
+    name_acronym: 'LEC',
+    full_name: 'Charles Leclerc',
+    team_name: 'Ferrari',
+    team_colour: 'E8002D',
+    dnf: false,
+    dns: false,
+    dsq: false,
+    duration: null,
+    gap_to_leader: null,
+    number_of_laps: 57,
+    points: 25,
+    session_key: 9550,
+    meeting_key: 1234,
+  },
+  {
+    driver_number: 55,
+    position: 2,
+    name_acronym: 'SAI',
+    full_name: 'Carlos Sainz',
+    team_name: 'Williams',
+    team_colour: '64C4FF',
+    dnf: false,
+    dns: false,
+    dsq: false,
+    duration: null,
+    gap_to_leader: 3.2,
+    number_of_laps: 57,
+    points: 18,
+    session_key: 9550,
+    meeting_key: 1234,
+  },
+]
+
+const nextSessionDrivers: Driver[] = [
+  {
+    driver_number: 16,
+    name_acronym: 'LEC',
+    full_name: 'Charles Leclerc',
+    first_name: 'Charles',
+    last_name: 'Leclerc',
+    team_name: 'Ferrari',
+    team_colour: 'E8002D',
+    headshot_url: '',
+    broadcast_name: 'C LECLERC',
+    session_key: 9550,
+    meeting_key: 1234,
+  },
+  {
+    driver_number: 55,
+    name_acronym: 'SAI',
+    full_name: 'Carlos Sainz',
+    first_name: 'Carlos',
+    last_name: 'Sainz',
+    team_name: 'Williams',
+    team_colour: '64C4FF',
+    headshot_url: '',
+    broadcast_name: 'C SAINZ',
+    session_key: 9550,
+    meeting_key: 1234,
+  },
+]
+
+function renderCompareView(
+  props: {
+    sessionKey?: number
+    results?: EnrichedResult[]
+    drivers?: Driver[]
+  } = {},
+) {
+  const client = new QueryClient({
+    defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } },
+  })
+  return render(
+    <QueryClientProvider client={client}>
+      <CompareView
+        sessionKey={props.sessionKey ?? 9472}
+        results={props.results ?? results}
+        drivers={props.drivers ?? drivers}
+      />
+    </QueryClientProvider>,
+  )
+}
+
+describe('compare mapping helpers', () => {
+  it('defaults to top two finishers', () => {
+    expect(defaultCompareDriverNumbers(results, drivers)).toEqual([1, 44])
+  })
+
+  it('maps comparison laps to delta series with null pit laps', () => {
+    const series = comparisonToDeltaSeries(comparison, [1, 44], drivers)
+    expect(series).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(series[0].label).toBe('VER')
+    expect(series[1].lapTimes[1]).toBeNull()
+
+    const deltas = computeCumulativeDeltas(series, 'VER')
+    expect(deltas[0].deltas[0]).toBeCloseTo(0.9)
+  })
+
+  it('maps car data to trace series', () => {
+    const trace = carDataToTraceSeries(
+      [
+        {
+          speed: 300,
+          throttle: 100,
+          brake: 0,
+          date: '',
+          driver_number: 1,
+          drs: 0,
+          meeting_key: 1,
+          n_gear: 8,
+          rpm: 12000,
+          session_key: 1,
+        },
+      ],
+      'VER',
+      '#3671C6',
+    )
+    expect(trace.samples[0]).toEqual({ speed: 300, throttle: 100, brake: 0 })
+  })
+
+  it('filters car data to best lap window', () => {
+    const best = findBestLap(comparison.drivers[0].laps)
+    expect(best?.lap_number).toBe(2)
+
+    const samples = [
+      {
+        date: '2025-05-25T13:01:32.100Z',
+        speed: 280,
+        throttle: 90,
+        brake: 0,
+        driver_number: 1,
+        drs: 0,
+        meeting_key: 1229,
+        n_gear: 7,
+        rpm: 11000,
+        session_key: 9472,
+      },
+      {
+        date: '2025-05-25T13:00:00.000Z',
+        speed: 200,
+        throttle: 50,
+        brake: 10,
+        driver_number: 1,
+        drs: 0,
+        meeting_key: 1229,
+        n_gear: 4,
+        rpm: 9000,
+        session_key: 9472,
+      },
+    ]
+
+    const filtered = filterCarDataToLap(samples, best!)
+    expect(filtered).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(filtered[0].speed).toBe(280)
+  })
+
+  it('builds best-lap trace series from car data and laps', () => {
+    const series = buildBestLapTraceSeries(
+      [
+        {
+          date: '2025-05-25T13:01:33.000Z',
+          speed: 310,
+          throttle: 100,
+          brake: 0,
+          driver_number: 1,
+          drs: 10,
+          meeting_key: 1229,
+          n_gear: 8,
+          rpm: 12000,
+          session_key: 9472,
+        },
+      ],
+      comparison.drivers[0].laps,
+      'VER',
+      '#3671C6',
+    )
+    expect(series?.samples).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(series?.samples[0].speed).toBe(310)
+  })
+
+  it('maps laps to lap time arrays with nulls', () => {
+    expect(lapsToLapTimes(comparison.drivers[1].laps)).toEqual([93.0, null, 91.2])
+  })
+
+  it('formats pit lap captions', () => {
+    expect(formatPitLapsCaption(comparison.pit_laps, [1, 44], comparison, drivers)).toBe(
+      'Pit stops — HAM: L19, L40',
+    )
+  })
+})
+
+describe('CompareView', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks()
+    mockFetchLapsComparison.mockResolvedValue(comparison)
+    mockFetchTelemetry.mockResolvedValue([
+      {
+        date: '2025-05-25T13:01:33.000Z',
+        speed: 310,
+        throttle: 100,
+        brake: 0,
+        driver_number: 1,
+        drs: 10,
+        meeting_key: 1229,
+        n_gear: 8,
+        rpm: 12000,
+        session_key: 9472,
+      },
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('renders pickers defaulting to top two finishers', async () => {
+    renderCompareView()
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-picker-a')).toHaveValue('1')
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-picker-b')).toHaveValue('44')
+    expect(screen.getAllByText('VER').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+    expect(screen.getAllByText('HAM').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+  })
+
+  it('resets the selected pair when the mounted session changes', async () => {
+    const { rerender } = renderCompareView()
+
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByTestId('compare-picker-a'), { target: { value: '44' } })
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-picker-a')).toHaveValue('44')
+
+    rerender(
+      <QueryClientProvider client={new QueryClient({ defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } } })}>
+        <CompareView
+          sessionKey={9550}
+          results={nextSessionResults}
+          drivers={nextSessionDrivers}
+        />
+      </QueryClientProvider>,
+    )
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-picker-a')).toHaveValue('16')
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-picker-b')).toHaveValue('55')
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('renders telemetry and pace sections with mocked queries', async () => {
+    renderCompareView()
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(mockFetchLapsComparison).toHaveBeenCalledWith(9472, [1, 44])
+    })
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('telemetry-trace')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('delta-time-graph')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-pit-caption')).toHaveTextContent('HAM: L19, L40')
+  })
+
+  it('shows error state when comparison fetch fails', async () => {
+    mockFetchLapsComparison.mockRejectedValue(new Error('comparison unavailable'))
+    renderCompareView()
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText('comparison unavailable')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('shows empty state when fewer than two drivers', () => {
+    const client = new QueryClient({ defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } } })
+    render(
+      <QueryClientProvider client={client}>
+        <CompareView sessionKey={9472} results={[]} drivers={[drivers[0]]} />
+      </QueryClientProvider>,
+    )
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('compare-view-empty')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+})

frontend/src/test/events.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  MAX_EVENTS,
+  appendEvents,
+  diffSnapshots,
+  humanizeRaceControl,
+  sessionSignature,
+} from '../lib/events'
+import type { LiveEvent } from '../lib/events'
+import type {
+  LiveDriverData,
+  LiveDriverInfo,
+  LiveRCMessage,
+  LiveStreamData,
+} from '../types'
+
+function driver(number: string, position: number, overrides: Partial<LiveDriverData> = {}): LiveDriverData {
+  return {
+    RacingNumber: number,
+    Position: position,
+    PrevPosition: position,
+    GapToLeader: '',
+    Interval: '',
+    LastLapTime: '',
+    LastLapPB: false,
+    LastLapOB: false,
+    BestLapTime: '',
+    BestLapPB: false,
+    BestLapOB: false,
+    BestLapNum: 0,
+    InPit: false,
+    PitOut: false,
+    Retired: false,
+    KnockedOut: false,
+    Cutoff: false,
+    OnFlyingLap: false,
+    NumberOfLaps: 10,
+    SpeedTrap: '',
+    Sectors: [],
+    ...overrides,
+  }
+}
+
+function info(number: string, tla: string): LiveDriverInfo {
+  return {
+    RacingNumber: number,
+    BroadcastName: tla,
+    Tla: tla,
+    TeamName: '',
+    TeamColour: '3671C6',
+    FirstName: '',
+    LastName: '',
+  }
+}
+
+function snapshot(
+  drivers: Record<string, LiveDriverData>,
+  overrides: Partial<LiveStreamData> = {},
+): LiveStreamData {
+  return {
+    Drivers: drivers,
+    DriverInfo: {
+      '1': info('1', 'VER'),
+      '4': info('4', 'NOR'),
+      '44': info('44', 'HAM'),
+    },
+    Tyres: {},
+    RCMessages: [],
+    TeamRadio: [],
+    Weather: {} as LiveStreamData['Weather'],
+    Session: {
+      MeetingName: 'Test Grand Prix',
+      CircuitName: 'Test Circuit',
+      SessionType: 'Race',
+      SessionName: 'Race',
+      Path: '',
+    },
+    TrackStatus: '1',
+    CurrentLap: 12,
+    TotalLaps: 57,
+    Clock: '01:23:45',
+    ClockRefTime: '',
+    ClockExtrapolating: false,
+    Stints: {},
+    ...overrides,
+  }
+}
+
+function rc(message: string, category: string, overrides: Partial<LiveRCMessage> = {}): LiveRCMessage {
+  return { Time: '2026-07-03T14:00:00Z', Category: category, Flag: '', Message: message, Lap: 12, ...overrides }
+}
+
+describe('diffSnapshots', () => {
+  it('returns no events for identical snapshots', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 1), '44': driver('44', 2) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 1), '44': driver('44', 2) })
+    expect(diffSnapshots(prev, next)).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('reports an overtake when two drivers swap positions', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 3), '44': driver('44', 2) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 2), '44': driver('44', 3) })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('overtake')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('VER overtakes HAM for P2')
+    expect(events[0].racingNumbers).toEqual(['1', '44'])
+    expect(events[0].lap).toBe(12)
+  })
+
+  it('reports a generic gain when the displaced driver pitted instead', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 3), '44': driver('44', 2) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 2), '44': driver('44', 5, { InPit: true }) })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    const gain = events.find((event) => event.kind === 'position-gain')
+    expect(gain?.headline).toBe('VER moves up to P2 (from P3)')
+    // HAM's drop is covered by the pit-in event, not a position-loss one.
+    expect(events.some((event) => event.kind === 'position-loss')).toBe(false)
+    expect(events.some((event) => event.kind === 'pit-in')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('reports a position loss not explained by an overtake or pit stop', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '44': driver('44', 3) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '44': driver('44', 6) })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('position-loss')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('HAM drops to P6 (from P3)')
+  })
+
+  it('reports pit entry with the position pitted from', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '4': driver('4', 3) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '4': driver('4', 3, { InPit: true }) })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('pit-in')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('NOR pits from P3')
+    expect(events[0].racingNumbers).toEqual(['4'])
+  })
+
+  it('reports pit exit with rejoin position, compound, and stop count', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '4': driver('4', 3, { InPit: true }) })
+    const next = snapshot(
+      { '4': driver('4', 6, { PitOut: true }) },
+      {
+        Tyres: { '4': { Compound: 'MEDIUM', New: true, Age: 0 } },
+        Stints: {
+          '4': [
+            { Compound: 'SOFT', New: true, Laps: 12 },
+            { Compound: 'HARD', New: true, Laps: 20 },
+            { Compound: 'MEDIUM', New: true, Laps: 0 },
+          ],
+        },
+      },
+    )
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('pit-out')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('NOR rejoins P6 (MEDIUM, 2nd stop)')
+  })
+
+  it('reports personal and overall best laps once per lap time', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({
+      '1': driver('1', 1, { LastLapTime: '1:24.500' }),
+      '4': driver('4', 2, { LastLapTime: '1:25.100' }),
+    })
+    const next = snapshot({
+      '1': driver('1', 1, { LastLapTime: '1:23.456', LastLapPB: true, LastLapOB: true }),
+      '4': driver('4', 2, { LastLapTime: '1:24.900', LastLapPB: true }),
+    })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    const fastest = events.find((event) => event.kind === 'fastest-lap')
+    const personal = events.find((event) => event.kind === 'personal-best')
+    expect(fastest?.headline).toBe('VER sets the fastest lap — 1:23.456')
+    expect(personal?.headline).toBe('NOR sets a personal best — 1:24.900')
+    // A repeat diff of the same state produces nothing new.
+    expect(diffSnapshots(next, snapshot(next.Drivers))).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('reports a retirement with the last running position', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '44': driver('44', 5) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '44': driver('44', 5, { Retired: true }) })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('retirement')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('HAM retires')
+    expect(events[0].detail).toBe('Was running P5')
+  })
+
+  it('reports track status transitions as human sentences', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 1) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 1) }, { TrackStatus: '4' })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('track-status')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('Safety Car deployed')
+  })
+
+  it('reports new Flag/SafetyCar/Drs race-control messages and skips other categories', () => {
+    const existing = rc('YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 7', 'Flag', { Time: '2026-07-03T13:00:00Z' })
+    const prev = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 1) }, { RCMessages: [existing] })
+    const next = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 1) }, {
+      RCMessages: [
+        existing,
+        rc('DRS ENABLED', 'Drs'),
+        rc('FIA STEWARDS: CAR 4 (NOR) UNDER INVESTIGATION', 'Other'),
+      ],
+    })
+    const events = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(events).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(events[0].kind).toBe('race-control')
+    expect(events[0].headline).toBe('DRS enabled')
+  })
+
+  it('produces stable ids across repeated diffs of the same snapshots', () => {
+    const prev = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 3), '44': driver('44', 2) })
+    const next = snapshot({ '1': driver('1', 2), '44': driver('44', 3) })
+    const first = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    const second = diffSnapshots(prev, next)
+    expect(first.map((event) => event.id)).toEqual(second.map((event) => event.id))
+  })
+})
+
+describe('humanizeRaceControl', () => {
+  it('sentence-cases while preserving acronyms', () => {
+    expect(humanizeRaceControl('SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED')).toBe('Safety car deployed')
+    expect(humanizeRaceControl('DRS ENABLED')).toBe('DRS enabled')
+    expect(humanizeRaceControl('VSC DEPLOYED')).toBe('VSC deployed')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('appendEvents', () => {
+  const event = (id: string): LiveEvent => ({
+    id,
+    kind: 'race-control',
+    lap: 1,
+    timestamp: '',
+    headline: id,
+    racingNumbers: [],
+  })
+
+  it('prepends new events newest-first and dedups by id', () => {
+    const buffer = appendEvents([event('a')], [event('a'), event('b'), event('c')])
+    expect(buffer.map((entry) => entry.id)).toEqual(['c', 'b', 'a'])
+    // Re-appending the same diff output changes nothing.
+    const again = appendEvents(buffer, [event('b'), event('c')])
+    expect(again.map((entry) => entry.id)).toEqual(['c', 'b', 'a'])
+  })
+
+  it('evicts the oldest events beyond the cap', () => {
+    let buffer: LiveEvent[] = []
+    for (let index = 0; index < MAX_EVENTS + 5; index += 1) {
+      buffer = appendEvents(buffer, [event(`event-${index}`)])
+    }
+    expect(buffer).toHaveLength(MAX_EVENTS)
+    expect(buffer[0].id).toBe(`event-${MAX_EVENTS + 4}`)
+    expect(buffer[buffer.length - 1].id).toBe('event-5')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('sessionSignature', () => {
+  it('changes when the session changes, enabling buffer resets', () => {
+    const race = snapshot({}).Session
+    expect(sessionSignature(race)).toBe('Test Grand Prix|Race|Race')
+    expect(sessionSignature({ ...race, SessionName: 'Qualifying' })).not.toBe(sessionSignature(race))
+    expect(sessionSignature(null)).toBe('')
+  })
+})

frontend/src/test/meaning.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  INTERVAL_DRS_MAX_SECONDS,
+  INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MAX_SECONDS,
+  INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MIN_SECONDS,
+  MAX_POINTS_PER_ROUND,
+  TYRE_CLIFF_LAPS,
+  intervalMeaning,
+  pointsGapMeaning,
+  tyreAgeMeaning,
+} from '../lib/meaning'
+
+describe('intervalMeaning', () => {
+  it('returns DRS range below the threshold', () => {
+    expect(intervalMeaning(0.4)?.caption).toBe('DRS range')
+    expect(intervalMeaning(INTERVAL_DRS_MAX_SECONDS - 0.01)?.caption).toBe('DRS range')
+  })
+
+  it('returns undercut window in the middle band', () => {
+    expect(intervalMeaning(INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MIN_SECONDS)?.caption).toBe('undercut window')
+    expect(intervalMeaning(2.0)?.caption).toBe('undercut window')
+    expect(intervalMeaning(INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MAX_SECONDS)?.caption).toBe('undercut window')
+  })
+
+  it('returns null outside known bands', () => {
+    expect(intervalMeaning(INTERVAL_UNDERCUT_MAX_SECONDS + 0.5)).toBeNull()
+    expect(intervalMeaning(10)).toBeNull()
+    expect(intervalMeaning(null)).toBeNull()
+    expect(intervalMeaning(undefined)).toBeNull()
+    expect(intervalMeaning(-1)).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('tyreAgeMeaning', () => {
+  it('labels fresh, mid-life, and laps-to-cliff for SOFT', () => {
+    const cliff = TYRE_CLIFF_LAPS.SOFT
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('SOFT', 2)?.caption).toBe('fresh')
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('SOFT', Math.ceil(cliff * 0.5))?.caption).toBe('mid-life')
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('SOFT', cliff - 2)?.caption).toBe('~2 laps to cliff')
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('SOFT', cliff + 5)?.caption).toBe('past cliff')
+  })
+
+  it('handles unknown compounds with defaults', () => {
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('UNKNOWN', 3)?.caption).toBe('fresh')
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning(undefined, 3)?.caption).toBe('fresh')
+  })
+
+  it('returns null for invalid age', () => {
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('MEDIUM', null)).toBeNull()
+    expect(tyreAgeMeaning('MEDIUM', -1)).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('pointsGapMeaning', () => {
+  it('computes catchable pts/round', () => {
+    const result = pointsGapMeaning(40, 4, 'VER')
+    expect(result?.caption).toBe('~10 pts/round')
+    expect(result?.title).toContain('VER')
+  })
+
+  it('marks uncatchable gaps', () => {
+    const max = 3 * MAX_POINTS_PER_ROUND
+    expect(pointsGapMeaning(max + 1, 3, 'VER')?.caption).toBe('out of reach')
+  })
+
+  it('returns null for leader or invalid input', () => {
+    expect(pointsGapMeaning(0, 4)).toBeNull()
+    expect(pointsGapMeaning(10, 0)).toBeNull()
+    expect(pointsGapMeaning(null, 4)).toBeNull()
+  })
+})

frontend/src/types.ts

@@ -158,6 +158,37 @@ export interface Lap {
   is_pit_out_lap: boolean
 }
 
+export interface CarDataSample {
+  brake: number
+  date: string
+  driver_number: number
+  drs: number
+  meeting_key: number
+  n_gear: number
+  rpm: number
+  session_key: number
+  speed: number
+  throttle: number
+}
+
+export interface ComparisonLap extends Lap {
+  compound?: string
+}
+
+export interface ComparisonDriver {
+  driver_number: number
+  name_acronym: string
+  team_colour: string
+  laps: ComparisonLap[]
+}
+
+export interface LapsComparisonResponse {
+  session_key: number
+  sc_periods: unknown[]
+  pit_laps: Record<string, number[]>
+  drivers: ComparisonDriver[]
+}
+
 export interface WeekendSession {
   session: Session
   source: 'local' | 'partial' | 'none' | 'cancelled'