Merge pull request #99 from AmanTahiliani/feat/issue-98-keep-completed-analysis-as-the-race-hub-

Keep completed analysis as the Race Hub default until the next Grand Prix is imminent (#98)

frontend/src/api.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import type {
   Session,
   TrackOutline,
   Weekend,
+  WeekendContext,
 } from './types'
 
 export async function fetchRaceHub(sessionKey: number): Promise<RaceHub> {
@@ -114,6 +115,14 @@ export async function fetchWeekend(meetingKey: number): Promise<Weekend> {
   return res.json()
 }
 
+export async function fetchWeekendContext(): Promise<WeekendContext> {
+  const res = await fetch('/api/v1/weekend-context')
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`API ${res.status}: ${res.statusText}`)
+  }
+  return res.json()
+}
+
 export async function fetchChampionshipHub(year?: number): Promise<ChampionshipHub> {
   const params = new URLSearchParams({ source: 'auto' })
   if (year) params.set('year', year.toString())

frontend/src/components/WeekendSwitcher.tsx

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export function WeekendSwitcher({ currentMeetingKey, currentSessionKey, onClose
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="rh-switcher" data-testid="rh-switcher">
+    <div id="rh-weekend-switcher" className="rh-switcher" data-testid="rh-switcher">
       <div className="rh-switcher-head">
         <span className="sec-title">Switch Weekend</span>
         <div className="rh-switcher-years">

frontend/src/components/live/TyreDegPanel.tsx

@@ -53,9 +53,8 @@ function StintSparkline({ seconds }: { seconds: number[] }) {
 
 export function TyreDegPanel({ rows, sessionType, pinned }: Props) {
   const isRace = isRaceSession(sessionType)
-  // In practice/qualifying deg trends are secondary — collapse by default so
-  // the Timing Tower stays above the fold. Races keep it open.
-  const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useState(!isRace)
+  const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useState(true)
+  const [readerChose, setReaderChose] = useState(false)
   const [stints, setStints] = useState<StintHistoryMap>({})
 
   // One lap-history update per received snapshot (rows is rebuilt per snapshot).
@@ -75,6 +74,30 @@ export function TyreDegPanel({ rows, sessionType, pinned }: Props) {
     [rows, pinned],
   )
 
+  // One linear fit per driver per snapshot, shared by the readiness check and
+  // the rows below. degradationModel is O(laps) and this runs at feed rate.
+  const models = useMemo(() => {
+    const out: Record<string, ReturnType<typeof degradationModel>> = {}
+    for (const row of visible) {
+      out[row.RacingNumber] = degradationModel(stints[row.RacingNumber]?.samples ?? [])
+    }
+    return out
+  }, [visible, stints])
+
+  // Before any stint has enough clean laps to fit, every row reads "warming
+  // up" — a full-height panel of placeholders that pushed the Timing Tower off
+  // the fold for the first third of a race. Stay collapsed until there is
+  // something to say, then open. A reader who has toggled it keeps their choice.
+  const hasSignal = useMemo(
+    () => visible.some((row) => models[row.RacingNumber] != null),
+    [visible, models],
+  )
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (readerChose) return
+    setCollapsed(!(isRace && hasSignal))
+  }, [isRace, hasSignal, readerChose])
+
   if (visible.length === 0) return null
 
   return (
@@ -82,18 +105,25 @@ export function TyreDegPanel({ rows, sessionType, pinned }: Props) {
       <button
         type="button"
         className="sec-header tyredeg-toggle"
-        onClick={() => setCollapsed((prev) => !prev)}
+        onClick={() => {
+          setReaderChose(true)
+          setCollapsed((prev) => !prev)
+        }}
         aria-expanded={!collapsed}
       >
         <span className="sec-title">Tyre Deg &amp; Pit Window</span>
-        {isRace && <span className="sec-meta">rejoin assumes ~{PIT_LOSS_SECONDS}s pit loss</span>}
+        {!hasSignal ? (
+          <span className="sec-meta">collecting clean laps</span>
+        ) : (
+          isRace && <span className="sec-meta">rejoin assumes ~{PIT_LOSS_SECONDS}s pit loss</span>
+        )}
         <span className="tyredeg-chevron" aria-hidden="true">{collapsed ? '▸' : '▾'}</span>
       </button>
 
       {!collapsed && (
         <div className="tyredeg-rows">
           {visible.map((row) => {
-            const model = degradationModel(stints[row.RacingNumber]?.samples ?? [])
+            const model = models[row.RacingNumber]
             const rejoin = isRace ? estimatePitRejoin(rows, row.RacingNumber) : null
             const ageAnnotation = tyreAgeMeaning(row.Tyre?.Compound, row.Tyre?.Age)
             return (

frontend/src/lib/schedule.ts

@@ -145,6 +145,15 @@ export function formatSessionScheduleTime(value: string): string {
   })
 }
 
+export const MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT = 2_147_483_647
+
+export function refreshDeadlineDelay(refreshAt: string | undefined, now = Date.now()): number | null {
+  if (!refreshAt) return null
+  const deadline = Date.parse(refreshAt)
+  if (Number.isNaN(deadline)) return null
+  return Math.min(Math.max(0, deadline - now), MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT)
+}
+
 export type FocusMeetingKind = 'current' | 'next' | 'recent' | 'fallback'
 
 export function focusMeetingKind(meeting: Meeting, now: Date): FocusMeetingKind {

frontend/src/pages/LiveTimingPage.tsx

@@ -289,14 +289,16 @@ export function LiveTimingPage() {
                 session={snapshot.Session}
               />
             </div>
+            {/* Rail runs most-synthesized to most-raw: a reader arriving
+                mid-session wants "what did I miss" before the regulatory log. */}
             <div className="live-rc-col">
+              <EventRail events={events} driverInfo={snapshot.DriverInfo} />
               <TeamRadioTicker
                 captures={snapshot.TeamRadio ?? []}
                 driverInfo={snapshot.DriverInfo}
                 session={snapshot.Session}
               />
               <RaceControlFeed messages={snapshot.RCMessages ?? []} driverInfo={snapshot.DriverInfo} />
-              <EventRail events={events} driverInfo={snapshot.DriverInfo} />
             </div>
           </div>
         </>

frontend/src/pages/RaceHubPage.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { useNavigate } from '@tanstack/react-router'
-import {
-  fetchLocalMeetings,
-  fetchRaceHub,
-  fetchSeasons,
-  fetchWeekend,
-} from '../api'
+import { fetchRaceHub, fetchWeekend, fetchWeekendContext } from '../api'
 import { DatasetStrip } from '../components/DatasetStrip'
 import { RaceStoryCanvas } from '../components/RaceStoryCanvas'
 import { TabBar, type Tab } from '../components/TabBar'
@@ -22,76 +17,72 @@ import { SourceBadge } from '../components/SourceBadge'
 import { countryAccent, countryDecal, formatGpDateRange } from '../lib/gpIdentity'
 import { formatCoverageHint, sessionTypeAbbrev } from '../lib/coverage'
 import {
+  MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT,
+  formatCountdown,
   formatSessionScheduleTime,
-  pickFocusMeeting,
+  refreshDeadlineDelay,
   sortSessionsByStart,
 } from '../lib/schedule'
-import type { Weekend, WeekendSession } from '../types'
+import type { ContextSession, Weekend } from '../types'
 
 interface Props {
   sessionKey: number
 }
 
-function pickAnalysisSession(weekend: Weekend | undefined): WeekendSession | undefined {
-  if (!weekend) return undefined
-  const local = weekend.sessions.filter((s) => s.source === 'local')
-  const partial = weekend.sessions.filter((s) => s.source === 'partial')
-  const pool = local.length > 0 ? local : partial.length > 0 ? partial : weekend.sessions
-  const race = pool.find((s) => s.session.session_type?.toLowerCase().includes('race'))
-  if (race) return race
-  const qual = pool.find((s) => s.session.session_type?.toLowerCase().includes('qualifying'))
-  if (qual) return qual
-  return pool[0]
-}
-
 export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
   const navigate = useNavigate()
   const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState<Tab>('overview')
   const [switcherOpen, setSwitcherOpen] = useState(false)
+  const [now, setNow] = useState(() => Date.now())
+  const [refreshGeneration, setRefreshGeneration] = useState(0)
 
-  // ─── Auto-redirect when no session_key is supplied ───
-  const seasonsQuery = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['seasons'],
-    queryFn: fetchSeasons,
+  // The server owns bare Race Hub selection so every open tab crosses the
+  // one-hour handoff at the same instant.
+  const contextQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['weekend-context'],
+    queryFn: fetchWeekendContext,
     enabled: sessionKey === 0,
   })
+  const { refetch: refetchContext } = contextQuery
 
-  const latestSeason = seasonsQuery.data?.[0] ?? null
-
-  const meetingsQuery = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['meetings', latestSeason],
-    queryFn: () => fetchLocalMeetings(latestSeason!),
-    enabled: sessionKey === 0 && latestSeason != null,
-  })
-
-  const focusMeeting = useMemo(() => {
-    if (sessionKey !== 0 || !meetingsQuery.data) return null
-    return pickFocusMeeting(meetingsQuery.data, new Date())
-  }, [sessionKey, meetingsQuery.data])
-
-  const fallbackWeekendQuery = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['weekend', focusMeeting?.meeting_key],
-    queryFn: () => fetchWeekend(focusMeeting!.meeting_key),
-    enabled: sessionKey === 0 && focusMeeting != null,
+  const context = contextQuery.data
+  const preSession = sessionKey === 0 && context?.race_hub_pre_session === true
+  const preSessionRef = context?.race_hub_default_session
+  const preSessionMeetingKey = preSessionRef?.meeting?.meeting_key
+  const preSessionWeekendQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['weekend', preSessionMeetingKey],
+    queryFn: () => fetchWeekend(preSessionMeetingKey!),
+    enabled: preSession && preSessionMeetingKey != null && preSessionMeetingKey > 0,
   })
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (sessionKey !== 0) return
-    const weekend = fallbackWeekendQuery.data
-    if (!weekend) return
-    const target = pickAnalysisSession(weekend)?.session.session_key
-      ?? weekend.default_session_key
-      ?? weekend.sessions[0]?.session.session_key
-    if (target) {
-      navigate({ to: '/race-hub', search: { session_key: target }, replace: true })
-    }
-  }, [sessionKey, fallbackWeekendQuery.data, navigate])
+    const delay = refreshDeadlineDelay(context?.race_hub_refresh_at)
+    if (delay == null) return
+    const rearmAfterRefetch = delay === MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT
+    const timer = window.setTimeout(() => {
+      void refetchContext().finally(() => {
+        if (rearmAfterRefetch) setRefreshGeneration((generation) => generation + 1)
+      })
+    }, delay)
+    return () => window.clearTimeout(timer)
+  }, [sessionKey, context?.race_hub_refresh_at, refetchContext, refreshGeneration])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!preSession) return
+    const timer = window.setInterval(() => setNow(Date.now()), 1_000)
+    return () => window.clearInterval(timer)
+  }, [preSession])
+
+  // A bare route retains canonical context ownership while rendering its
+  // completed analysis selection. Explicit URLs remain user-owned.
+  const selectedSessionKey = sessionKey || context?.race_hub_default_session?.session.session_key || 0
 
   // ─── Active session payload ───
   const raceHubQuery = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['race-hub', sessionKey],
-    queryFn: () => fetchRaceHub(sessionKey),
-    enabled: sessionKey > 0,
+    queryKey: ['race-hub', selectedSessionKey],
+    queryFn: () => fetchRaceHub(selectedSessionKey),
+    enabled: selectedSessionKey > 0 && (sessionKey > 0 || !preSession),
     staleTime: 30_000,
   })
 
@@ -108,25 +99,36 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
   const accent = countryAccent(data?.meeting ?? null)
   const accentStyle = { '--gp-accent': accent } as React.CSSProperties
 
-  // ─── No session_key: show resolving state, fall back to switcher if no local data ───
+  // ─── No session_key: resolve exclusively through canonical Weekend Context ───
   if (sessionKey === 0) {
-    if (seasonsQuery.isLoading || meetingsQuery.isLoading || fallbackWeekendQuery.isLoading) {
+    if (contextQuery.isLoading || (preSession && preSessionWeekendQuery.isLoading)) {
       return (
         <div className="rh-page" style={accentStyle}>
           <div className="loading-state">resolving latest local weekend…</div>
         </div>
       )
     }
-    const seasons = seasonsQuery.data ?? []
-    if (seasons.length === 0) {
+    if (preSession && preSessionRef) {
+      return (
+        <RaceHubPreSession
+          session={preSessionRef}
+          weekend={preSessionWeekendQuery.data}
+          now={now}
+          switcherOpen={switcherOpen}
+          onToggleSwitcher={() => setSwitcherOpen((open) => !open)}
+          onCloseSwitcher={() => setSwitcherOpen(false)}
+        />
+      )
+    }
+    if (!selectedSessionKey) {
       return (
         <div className="rh-page rh-empty" data-testid="race-hub-empty" style={accentStyle}>
           <div className="rh-empty-band">
             <span className="rh-empty-eyebrow mono">box-box · race hub</span>
-            <h1 className="rh-empty-title">No local sessions yet</h1>
+            <h1 className="rh-empty-title">No completed local analysis yet</h1>
             <p className="rh-empty-sub">
-              The Race Hub reads from local ingest only. Once a weekend is ingested
-              it will open here automatically.
+              Race Hub opens completed local analysis between weekends. Check Data Health
+              to ingest a completed session.
             </p>
             <div className="rh-empty-actions">
               <a href="/admin" className="rh-empty-action">Open Admin · Data Health</a>
@@ -136,18 +138,13 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
         </div>
       )
     }
-    return (
-      <div className="rh-page" style={accentStyle}>
-        <div className="loading-state">resolving latest local weekend…</div>
-      </div>
-    )
   }
 
-  // ─── Loading / error for the requested session_key ───
+  // ─── Loading / error for the selected session ───
   if (raceHubQuery.isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="rh-page" style={accentStyle}>
-        <div className="loading-state">loading session {sessionKey}…</div>
+        <div className="loading-state">loading session {selectedSessionKey}…</div>
       </div>
     )
   }
@@ -157,7 +154,7 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
         <div className="error-box">
           {raceHubQuery.error instanceof Error
             ? raceHubQuery.error.message
-            : `Failed to load session ${sessionKey}.`}
+            : `Failed to load session ${selectedSessionKey}.`}
         </div>
       </div>
     )
@@ -168,7 +165,7 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
   const sessionMeta = weekend
     ? Object.fromEntries(weekend.sessions.map((w) => [w.session.session_key, w]))
     : {}
-  const activeSessionMeta = sessionMeta[sessionKey]
+  const activeSessionMeta = sessionMeta[selectedSessionKey]
 
   return (
     <div className="rh-page" data-testid="race-hub" style={accentStyle}>
@@ -194,7 +191,7 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
       {switcherOpen && (
         <WeekendSwitcher
           currentMeetingKey={meetingKey}
-          currentSessionKey={sessionKey}
+          currentSessionKey={selectedSessionKey}
           onClose={() => setSwitcherOpen(false)}
         />
       )}
@@ -225,7 +222,7 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
         <nav className="rh-session-rail" aria-label="Weekend sessions" data-testid="rh-session-rail">
           {sessions.map((session) => {
             const meta = sessionMeta[session.session_key]
-            const active = session.session_key === sessionKey
+            const active = session.session_key === selectedSessionKey
             return (
               <button
                 key={session.session_key}
@@ -278,7 +275,7 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
               {formatCoverageHint(activeSessionMeta.datasets)} datasets local
             </span>
           )}
-          <span className="rh-active-key mono">key {sessionKey}</span>
+          <span className="rh-active-key mono">key {selectedSessionKey}</span>
         </div>
       )}
 
@@ -314,7 +311,7 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
             <span className="sec-title">Driver Compare</span>
           </div>
           <CompareView
-            sessionKey={sessionKey}
+            sessionKey={selectedSessionKey}
             results={data.results}
             drivers={data.drivers}
           />
@@ -368,3 +365,72 @@ export function RaceHubPage({ sessionKey }: Props) {
     </div>
   )
 }
+
+function RaceHubPreSession({
+  session,
+  weekend,
+  now,
+  switcherOpen,
+  onToggleSwitcher,
+  onCloseSwitcher,
+}: {
+  session: ContextSession
+  weekend?: Weekend
+  now: number
+  switcherOpen: boolean
+  onToggleSwitcher: () => void
+  onCloseSwitcher: () => void
+}) {
+  const meeting = session.meeting
+  const sessions = sortSessionsByStart((weekend?.sessions ?? []).map((entry) => entry.session))
+  const target = new Date(session.session.date_start)
+  const accent = countryAccent(meeting ?? null)
+  const pendingLiveEvidence = target.getTime() <= now
+
+  return (
+    <div className="rh-page rh-empty" data-testid="race-hub-pre-session" style={{ '--gp-accent': accent } as React.CSSProperties}>
+      <div className="rh-topbar">
+        <span className="rh-topbar-label mono">box-box · race hub</span>
+        <span className="rh-topbar-spacer" />
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className={`rh-switcher-toggle${switcherOpen ? ' active' : ''}`}
+          onClick={onToggleSwitcher}
+          aria-expanded={switcherOpen}
+          aria-controls="rh-weekend-switcher"
+          data-testid="rh-switch-weekend"
+        >
+          {switcherOpen ? 'Close' : 'Switch Weekend'}
+        </button>
+      </div>
+
+      {switcherOpen && (
+        <WeekendSwitcher
+          currentMeetingKey={meeting?.meeting_key}
+          currentSessionKey={session.session.session_key}
+          onClose={onCloseSwitcher}
+        />
+      )}
+
+      <section className="rh-empty-band">
+        <span className="rh-empty-eyebrow mono">box-box · race hub</span>
+        <h1 className="rh-empty-title">{meeting?.meeting_name ?? 'Next race weekend'}</h1>
+        <p className="rh-empty-sub">
+          {pendingLiveEvidence
+            ? `${session.session.session_name} is scheduled; awaiting live timing.`
+            : <>{session.session.session_name} begins in <span className="mono">{formatCountdown(target, new Date(now))}</span></>}
+        </p>
+        {sessions.length > 0 && (
+          <div className="preview-schedule" data-testid="rh-pre-session-schedule">
+            {sessions.map((scheduled) => (
+              <div key={scheduled.session_key} className="preview-schedule-item">
+                <span className="preview-schedule-name">{scheduled.session_name}</span>
+                <span className="preview-schedule-time">{formatSessionScheduleTime(scheduled.date_start)}</span>
+              </div>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </section>
+    </div>
+  )
+}

frontend/src/styles/app.css

@@ -89,6 +89,16 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
 }
 .app-nav::-webkit-scrollbar { display: none; }
 
+/* The nav scrolls horizontally with its scrollbar hidden. Below the width
+   where the links stop fitting, fade the trailing edge so the cut-off item
+   reads as "scroll for more" instead of as a clipping bug. */
+@media (max-width: 560px) {
+  .app-nav {
+    -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(to right, #000 calc(100% - 32px), transparent 100%);
+    mask-image: linear-gradient(to right, #000 calc(100% - 32px), transparent 100%);
+  }
+}
+
 .nav-logo {
   font-family: var(--f-mono);
   font-size: 15px;

frontend/src/test/RaceHubPage.test.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
-import { render, screen, waitFor, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
+import { act, render, screen, waitFor, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react'
 import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import {
   Outlet,
@@ -9,21 +9,24 @@ import {
   createRoute,
 } from '@tanstack/react-router'
 import { RaceHubPage } from '../pages/RaceHubPage'
-import type { DatasetInfo, Meeting, RaceHub, Session, Weekend } from '../types'
+import { MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT } from '../lib/schedule'
+import type { ContextAvailability, DatasetInfo, Meeting, RaceHub, Session, Weekend, WeekendContext } from '../types'
 
 vi.mock('../api', () => ({
   fetchRaceHub: vi.fn(),
   fetchSeasons: vi.fn(),
   fetchLocalMeetings: vi.fn(),
   fetchWeekend: vi.fn(),
+  fetchWeekendContext: vi.fn(),
 }))
 
-import { fetchRaceHub, fetchSeasons, fetchLocalMeetings, fetchWeekend } from '../api'
+import { fetchLocalMeetings, fetchRaceHub, fetchSeasons, fetchWeekend, fetchWeekendContext } from '../api'
 
 const mockFetchRaceHub = vi.mocked(fetchRaceHub)
 const mockFetchSeasons = vi.mocked(fetchSeasons)
 const mockFetchLocalMeetings = vi.mocked(fetchLocalMeetings)
 const mockFetchWeekend = vi.mocked(fetchWeekend)
+const mockFetchWeekendContext = vi.mocked(fetchWeekendContext)
 
 const meeting: Meeting = {
   meeting_key: 1229,
@@ -169,6 +172,26 @@ const weekend: Weekend = {
   ],
 }
 
+const availability: ContextAvailability = {
+  source: 'local',
+  schedule: 'available',
+  live_transport: 'unknown',
+  live_session: 'inactive',
+  archive: 'unavailable',
+  local_analysis: 'complete',
+  freshness: 'local',
+  limitations: [],
+}
+
+const analysisContext: WeekendContext = {
+  temporal_state: 'between_weekends',
+  default_analysis_session: { session: raceSession, meeting, availability },
+  race_hub_default_session: { session: raceSession, meeting, availability },
+  race_hub_pre_session: false,
+  championship_round: 1,
+  total_championship_rounds: 24,
+}
+
 function renderRaceHub(sessionKey: number) {
   const queryClient = new QueryClient({
     defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } },
@@ -193,23 +216,28 @@ function renderRaceHub(sessionKey: number) {
       return <RaceHubPage sessionKey={session_key ?? 0} />
     },
   })
+  window.history.pushState({}, '', sessionKey ? `/race-hub?session_key=${sessionKey}` : '/race-hub')
   const router = createRouter({
     routeTree: rootRoute.addChildren([raceHubRoute]),
     history: undefined,
   })
 
-  // Navigate to the URL before mounting
-  router.navigate({ to: '/race-hub', search: sessionKey ? { session_key: sessionKey } : {} })
-  return render(<RouterProvider router={router} />)
+  return { queryClient, ...render(<RouterProvider router={router} />) }
 }
 
 describe('RaceHubPage', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
     vi.clearAllMocks()
     mockFetchSeasons.mockResolvedValue([2025])
     mockFetchLocalMeetings.mockResolvedValue([meeting])
     mockFetchWeekend.mockResolvedValue(weekend)
     mockFetchRaceHub.mockResolvedValue(raceHub)
+    mockFetchWeekendContext.mockResolvedValue(analysisContext)
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
   })
 
   it('renders the workspace identity band, session rail, and overview for a known session', async () => {
@@ -256,4 +284,122 @@ describe('RaceHubPage', () => {
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId('rh-switch-weekend'))
     expect(await screen.findByTestId('rh-switcher')).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
+
+  it('uses the server-selected completed analysis session for bare Race Hub without changing the URL', async () => {
+    renderRaceHub(0)
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(mockFetchRaceHub).toHaveBeenCalledWith(9472))
+    expect(mockFetchWeekendContext).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('renders the intentional pre-session state without analysis cards', async () => {
+    mockFetchWeekendContext.mockResolvedValue({
+      ...analysisContext,
+      race_hub_default_session: {
+        session: { ...raceSession, session_key: 9473, session_name: 'Practice 1', session_type: 'Practice', date_start: '2099-05-23T13:00:00Z' },
+        meeting,
+        availability,
+      },
+      race_hub_pre_session: true,
+      race_hub_refresh_at: '2099-05-23T13:00:00Z',
+    })
+
+    renderRaceHub(0)
+
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('race-hub-pre-session')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('rh-pre-session-schedule')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Winner')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(mockFetchRaceHub).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('opens the weekend switcher from pre-session and navigates to the selected explicit session', async () => {
+    mockFetchWeekendContext.mockResolvedValue({
+      ...analysisContext,
+      race_hub_default_session: {
+        session: { ...raceSession, session_key: 9473, session_name: 'Practice 1', session_type: 'Practice', date_start: '2099-05-23T13:00:00Z' },
+        meeting,
+        availability,
+      },
+      race_hub_pre_session: true,
+      race_hub_refresh_at: '2099-05-23T13:00:00Z',
+    })
+
+    renderRaceHub(0)
+
+    const switchWeekend = await screen.findByTestId('rh-switch-weekend')
+    expect(switchWeekend).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false')
+    fireEvent.click(switchWeekend)
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('rh-switcher')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(switchWeekend).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true')
+
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByTestId('rh-switcher-session-9471'))
+    await waitFor(() => expect(window.location.search).toBe('?session_key=9471'))
+  })
+
+  it('shows recovery instead of selecting an empty future session', async () => {
+    mockFetchWeekendContext.mockResolvedValue({
+      ...analysisContext,
+      race_hub_default_session: undefined,
+      race_hub_pre_session: false,
+    })
+
+    renderRaceHub(0)
+
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('race-hub-empty')).toHaveTextContent('No completed local analysis yet')
+    expect(mockFetchRaceHub).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('hands a bare route from completed analysis to pre-session at the supplied refresh boundary', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true })
+    const handoff = new Date(Date.now() + 10_000).toISOString()
+    const pendingContext: WeekendContext = {
+      ...analysisContext,
+      race_hub_default_session: {
+        session: { ...raceSession, session_key: 9473, session_name: 'Practice 1', session_type: 'Practice', date_start: handoff },
+        meeting,
+        availability,
+      },
+      race_hub_pre_session: true,
+      race_hub_refresh_at: new Date(Date.now() + 16_000).toISOString(),
+    }
+    mockFetchWeekendContext
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ ...analysisContext, race_hub_refresh_at: handoff })
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(pendingContext)
+
+    renderRaceHub(0)
+    await screen.findByTestId('race-hub')
+    await act(async () => { await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10_000) })
+
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('race-hub-pre-session')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(mockFetchWeekendContext).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(mockFetchRaceHub).toHaveBeenCalledWith(9472)
+    expect(mockFetchRaceHub).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(9473)
+  })
+
+  it('re-arms a bare route refresh after a capped browser timer', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true })
+    mockFetchWeekendContext.mockResolvedValue({
+      ...analysisContext,
+      race_hub_refresh_at: new Date(Date.now() + MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT + 1_000).toISOString(),
+    })
+
+    renderRaceHub(0)
+    await screen.findByTestId('race-hub')
+    await act(async () => { await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT) })
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(mockFetchWeekendContext).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2))
+    await act(async () => { await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000) })
+    await waitFor(() => expect(mockFetchWeekendContext).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3))
+  })
+
+  it('keeps an explicit session URL stable across the canonical refresh boundary', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    renderRaceHub(9472)
+
+    await act(async () => { await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(60_000) })
+
+    expect(mockFetchWeekendContext).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mockFetchRaceHub).toHaveBeenCalledWith(9472)
+    expect(mockFetchRaceHub).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(9473)
+  })
 })

frontend/src/test/TyreDegPanel.test.tsx

@@ -47,9 +47,20 @@ function snapshotRows(lap: number, lastLapTime: string): LiveTimingRow[] {
 }
 
 describe('TyreDegPanel', () => {
-  it('shows a warming-up placeholder until enough clean laps accumulate', () => {
+  it('stays collapsed while every stint is still warming up', () => {
     render(<TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(3, '1:30.000')} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
     const panel = screen.getByTestId('tyredeg-panel')
+
+    // A panel of "warming up" placeholders carries no information and used to
+    // push the Timing Tower off the fold for the first third of a race.
+    expect(screen.queryAllByTestId('tyredeg-row')).toHaveLength(0)
+    expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('collecting clean laps')
+  })
+
+  it('shows a warming-up placeholder on each row once expanded', () => {
+    render(<TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(3, '1:30.000')} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /tyre deg/i }))
+    const panel = screen.getByTestId('tyredeg-panel')
     expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('VER')
     expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('M +5')
     expect(panel).toHaveTextContent('fresh')
@@ -61,6 +72,7 @@ describe('TyreDegPanel', () => {
       makeRow('1', 1, 'VER', { NumberOfLaps: 10, LastLapTime: '1:30.000' }, { Compound: 'MEDIUM', Age: 12 }),
     ]
     render(<TyreDegPanel rows={rows} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /tyre deg/i }))
     expect(screen.getByText('mid-life')).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
@@ -92,16 +104,44 @@ describe('TyreDegPanel', () => {
     expect(panel).not.toHaveTextContent('~P')
   })
 
-  it('starts expanded during a race', () => {
-    render(<TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(3, '1:30.000')} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
+  it('opens itself during a race as soon as a stint has signal', () => {
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(1, '1:30.000')} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />,
+    )
+    expect(screen.queryAllByTestId('tyredeg-row')).toHaveLength(0)
+
+    for (let lap = 2; lap <= 6; lap++) {
+      const time = `1:30.${String((lap - 1) * 100).padStart(3, '0')}`
+      rerender(<TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(lap, time)} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
+    }
+
     expect(screen.getAllByTestId('tyredeg-row')).toHaveLength(2)
   })
 
+  it('keeps the reader\'s own collapse choice when signal arrives', () => {
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(1, '1:30.000')} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />,
+    )
+    // Reader opens it early, then closes it again — that decision must stick
+    // even once the panel would otherwise auto-open.
+    const toggle = screen.getByRole('button', { name: /tyre deg/i })
+    fireEvent.click(toggle)
+    fireEvent.click(toggle)
+
+    for (let lap = 2; lap <= 6; lap++) {
+      const time = `1:30.${String((lap - 1) * 100).padStart(3, '0')}`
+      rerender(<TyreDegPanel rows={snapshotRows(lap, time)} sessionType="Race" pinned={[]} />)
+    }
+
+    expect(screen.queryAllByTestId('tyredeg-row')).toHaveLength(0)
+  })
+
   it('limits rows to the top ten plus pinned drivers', () => {
     const rows = Array.from({ length: 15 }, (_, index) =>
       makeRow(String(index + 1), index + 1, `D${index + 1}`),
     )
     render(<TyreDegPanel rows={rows} sessionType="Race" pinned={['14']} />)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /tyre deg/i }))
     expect(screen.getAllByTestId('tyredeg-row')).toHaveLength(11)
     expect(screen.getByText('D14')).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.queryByText('D12')).not.toBeInTheDocument()

frontend/src/test/schedule.test.ts

@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ import {
   focusMeetingKind,
   focusMeetingLabel,
   formatCountdown,
+  MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT,
   nextUpcomingMeeting,
   pickFocusMeeting,
+  refreshDeadlineDelay,
 } from '../lib/schedule'
 import type { Meeting, Session } from '../types'
 
@@ -78,4 +80,15 @@ describe('schedule helpers', () => {
     const target = new Date('2025-05-25T13:00:00+00:00')
     expect(formatCountdown(target, now)).toBe('0d 01h 00m 00s')
   })
+
+  it('uses the server refresh deadline without local timezone conversion', () => {
+    expect(refreshDeadlineDelay('2025-05-25T13:00:00Z', Date.parse('2025-05-25T12:59:30Z'))).toBe(30_000)
+    expect(refreshDeadlineDelay(undefined)).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('caps a refresh deadline beyond the browser timer maximum', () => {
+    const now = Date.parse('2025-05-25T12:00:00Z')
+    const deadline = new Date(now + MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT + 1_000).toISOString()
+    expect(refreshDeadlineDelay(deadline, now)).toBe(MAX_BROWSER_TIMEOUT)
+  })
 })

frontend/src/types.ts

@@ -217,6 +217,41 @@ export interface Weekend {
   default_session_key?: number
 }
 
+export interface ContextAvailability {
+  source: string
+  schedule: string
+  live_transport: string
+  live_session: string
+  archive: string
+  local_analysis: string
+  freshness: string
+  observed_at?: string
+  limitations: string[]
+}
+
+export interface ContextSession {
+  session: Session
+  meeting?: Meeting
+  availability: ContextAvailability
+}
+
+export interface WeekendContext {
+  season?: number
+  temporal_state: string
+  previous_meeting?: Meeting
+  focus_meeting?: Meeting
+  next_meeting?: Meeting
+  previous_completed_session?: ContextSession
+  active_session?: ContextSession
+  next_session?: ContextSession
+  default_analysis_session?: ContextSession
+  race_hub_default_session?: ContextSession
+  race_hub_pre_session: boolean
+  race_hub_refresh_at?: string
+  championship_round: number
+  total_championship_rounds: number
+}
+
 export interface LiveStateResponse {
   is_live: boolean
   data: LiveStreamData | null

internal/live/parser_test.go

@@ -472,6 +472,62 @@ func TestProcessTopicTimingAppData(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// The feed sends stints as sparse deltas keyed by stint index. Replacing the
+// slice on each delta collapsed pit history to one entry and pinned tyre age
+// near zero — observed live at lap 49 of a 70-lap race, where every driver
+// reported a single stint of age 0 despite having pitted.
+func TestProcessTopicTimingAppDataMergesSparseStintDeltas(t *testing.T) {
+	state := live.NewState()
+	state.ProcessTopic("TimingAppData", json.RawMessage(`{
+		"Lines": {"4": {"Stints": {"0": {"Compound": "MEDIUM", "New": "true", "TotalLaps": 0}}}}
+	}`))
+	// Stint 0 runs to 18 laps, then the driver pits onto a new hard.
+	state.ProcessTopic("TimingAppData", json.RawMessage(`{
+		"Lines": {"4": {"Stints": {"0": {"TotalLaps": 18}}}}
+	}`))
+	state.ProcessTopic("TimingAppData", json.RawMessage(`{
+		"Lines": {"4": {"Stints": {"1": {"Compound": "HARD", "New": "true", "TotalLaps": 0}}}}
+	}`))
+	state.ProcessTopic("TimingAppData", json.RawMessage(`{
+		"Lines": {"4": {"Stints": {"1": {"TotalLaps": 12}}}}
+	}`))
+
+	snap := state.Snapshot()
+	stints := snap.Stints["4"]
+	if len(stints) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 stints after a pit stop, got %d: %+v", len(stints), stints)
+	}
+	if stints[0].Compound != "MEDIUM" || stints[0].Laps != 18 {
+		t.Errorf("first stint lost across deltas: %+v", stints[0])
+	}
+	if stints[1].Compound != "HARD" || stints[1].Laps != 12 {
+		t.Errorf("second stint = %+v", stints[1])
+	}
+	if tyre := snap.Tyres["4"]; tyre.Compound != "HARD" || tyre.Age != 12 {
+		t.Errorf("current tyre should track the latest stint, got %+v", tyre)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessTopicTimingAppDataIgnoresNonNumericStintKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	state := live.NewState()
+	state.ProcessTopic("TimingAppData", json.RawMessage(`{
+		"Lines": {"4": {"Stints": {"0": {"Compound": "SOFT", "New": "true", "TotalLaps": 9}}}}
+	}`))
+	// "_kf" is a feed key-frame marker, not a stint index. Parsing it as 0
+	// would overwrite the real first stint.
+	state.ProcessTopic("TimingAppData", json.RawMessage(`{
+		"Lines": {"4": {"Stints": {"_kf": {"Compound": "HARD", "TotalLaps": 99}}}}
+	}`))
+
+	stints := state.Snapshot().Stints["4"]
+	if len(stints) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 1 stint, got %d: %+v", len(stints), stints)
+	}
+	if stints[0].Compound != "SOFT" || stints[0].Laps != 9 {
+		t.Errorf("key-frame marker corrupted stint 0: %+v", stints[0])
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProcessTopicTimingStats(t *testing.T) {
 	state := live.NewState()
 	state.Drivers["55"] = live.LiveDriverData{RacingNumber: "55"}

internal/live/state.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"log"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -404,22 +405,42 @@ func (s *State) ProcessTopic(topic string, data json.RawMessage) bool {
 					Stints json.RawMessage `json:"Stints"`
 				}
 				if json.Unmarshal(lineRaw, &line) == nil && line.Stints != nil {
-					var driverStints []LiveStintData
+					// The feed sends stints as sparse deltas keyed by stint index:
+					// a mid-stint update is just {"1": {"TotalLaps": 14}}. Merge
+					// each entry into the stint it addresses. Replacing the slice
+					// wholesale discarded every earlier stint, so pit history
+					// collapsed to one entry and tyre age stuck near zero for the
+					// whole race.
+					driverStints := append([]LiveStintData(nil), s.Stints[num]...)
+					changed := false
 					for _, sRaw := range indexedRawValues(line.Stints) {
 						var st struct {
-							Compound  string `json:"Compound"`
-							New       string `json:"New"`
-							TotalLaps int    `json:"TotalLaps"`
+							Compound  *string `json:"Compound"`
+							New       *string `json:"New"`
+							TotalLaps *int    `json:"TotalLaps"`
 						}
-						if json.Unmarshal(sRaw.Raw, &st) == nil && st.Compound != "" {
-							driverStints = append(driverStints, LiveStintData{
-								Compound: st.Compound,
-								New:      st.New == "true" || st.New == "True",
-								Laps:     st.TotalLaps,
-							})
+						if json.Unmarshal(sRaw.Raw, &st) != nil {
+							continue
 						}
+						if st.Compound == nil && st.New == nil && st.TotalLaps == nil {
+							continue
+						}
+						for len(driverStints) <= sRaw.Index {
+							driverStints = append(driverStints, LiveStintData{})
+						}
+						entry := &driverStints[sRaw.Index]
+						if st.Compound != nil && *st.Compound != "" {
+							entry.Compound = *st.Compound
+						}
+						if st.New != nil {
+							entry.New = *st.New == "true" || *st.New == "True"
+						}
+						if st.TotalLaps != nil {
+							entry.Laps = *st.TotalLaps
+						}
+						changed = true
 					}
-					if len(driverStints) > 0 {
+					if changed {
 						s.Stints[num] = driverStints
 						lastStint := driverStints[len(driverStints)-1]
 						t := s.Tyres[num]
@@ -874,8 +895,13 @@ func indexedRawValues(raw json.RawMessage) []indexedRaw {
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &obj); err == nil {
 		values := make([]indexedRaw, 0, len(obj))
 		for k, v := range obj {
-			i := 0
-			fmt.Sscanf(k, "%d", &i)
+			// Keys are array indices in the feed's delta form. Non-numeric keys
+			// are feed metadata — "_kf" (key frame) is the common one — and must
+			// not be folded in as index 0, which would clobber the first entry.
+			i, err := strconv.Atoi(k)
+			if err != nil || i < 0 {
+				continue
+			}
 			values = append(values, indexedRaw{Index: i, Raw: v})
 		}
 		sort.Slice(values, func(i, j int) bool {

internal/query/context.go

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const (
 
 	preSessionWindow  = 48 * time.Hour
 	postWeekendWindow = 48 * time.Hour
+	raceHubPendingPollInterval = 15 * time.Second
 )
 
 // LiveEvidence is the small, transport-independent subset of FIA state needed
@@ -69,6 +70,9 @@ type WeekendContext struct {
 	ActiveSession            *ContextSession `json:"active_session,omitempty"`
 	NextSession              *ContextSession `json:"next_session,omitempty"`
 	DefaultAnalysisSession   *ContextSession `json:"default_analysis_session,omitempty"`
+	RaceHubDefaultSession    *ContextSession `json:"race_hub_default_session,omitempty"`
+	RaceHubPreSession        bool            `json:"race_hub_pre_session"`
+	RaceHubRefreshAt         string          `json:"race_hub_refresh_at,omitempty"`
 	ChampionshipRound        int             `json:"championship_round"`
 	TotalChampionshipRounds  int             `json:"total_championship_rounds"`
 }
@@ -150,7 +154,7 @@ func (s *Service) ResolveWeekendContext(evidence LiveEvidence) (WeekendContext,
 		}
 	}
 
-	var previous, next, defaultAnalysis *contextCandidate
+	var previous, next, defaultAnalysis, pending *contextCandidate
 	for i := range candidates {
 		c := &candidates[i]
 		isActive := active != nil && active.session.SessionKey != 0 && c.session.SessionKey == active.session.SessionKey
@@ -164,6 +168,10 @@ func (s *Service) ResolveWeekendContext(evidence LiveEvidence) (WeekendContext,
 		if !isActive && !c.start.IsZero() && !c.start.Before(now) && (next == nil || c.start.Before(next.start)) {
 			next = c
 		}
+		if !isActive && !c.complete && !c.start.IsZero() && !c.start.After(now) &&
+			(c.end.IsZero() || now.Before(c.end)) && (pending == nil || c.start.After(pending.start)) {
+			pending = c
+		}
 	}
 
 	if previous != nil {
@@ -188,9 +196,40 @@ func (s *Service) ResolveWeekendContext(evidence LiveEvidence) (WeekendContext,
 	if out.FocusMeeting != nil {
 		out.ChampionshipRound = championshipRound(champMeetings, int(out.FocusMeeting.MeetingKey))
 	}
+	applyRaceHubDefault(&out, active, defaultAnalysis, next, pending, now)
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+// applyRaceHubDefault is deliberately distinct from TemporalPreSession. Other
+// weekend surfaces begin preparation 48 hours ahead; Race Hub remains an
+// analysis destination until the one-hour handoff before the next session.
+func applyRaceHubDefault(out *WeekendContext, active, analysis, next, pending *contextCandidate, now time.Time) {
+	if active != nil {
+		out.RaceHubDefaultSession = out.ActiveSession
+		return
+	}
+	if next != nil {
+		handoff := next.start.Add(-time.Hour)
+		if now.Before(handoff) {
+			out.RaceHubRefreshAt = handoff.Format(time.RFC3339)
+		} else if now.Before(next.start) {
+			out.RaceHubDefaultSession = out.NextSession
+			out.RaceHubPreSession = true
+			out.RaceHubRefreshAt = next.start.Format(time.RFC3339)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	if pending != nil {
+		out.RaceHubDefaultSession = sessionRef(*pending, LiveEvidence{}, now)
+		out.RaceHubPreSession = true
+		out.RaceHubRefreshAt = now.Add(raceHubPendingPollInterval).Format(time.RFC3339)
+		return
+	}
+	if analysis != nil {
+		out.RaceHubDefaultSession = out.DefaultAnalysisSession
+	}
+}
+
 func currentLocalSeason(years []int, current int) int {
 	for _, year := range years {
 		if year == current {

internal/query/context_test.go

@@ -399,3 +399,88 @@ func TestResolveWeekendContextMissingScheduleDoesNotClaimSeasonComplete(t *testi
 		t.Fatalf("total rounds = %d, want scheduled round retained", got.TotalChampionshipRounds)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestResolveWeekendContextRaceHubDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	seed := func(t *testing.T, svc *Service) {
+		addContextMeeting(t, svc, 1, "British Grand Prix", "2026-07-03T09:00:00Z", "2026-07-05T16:00:00Z", false)
+		addContextSession(t, svc, 11, 1, "Race", "2026-07-05T14:00:00Z", "2026-07-05T16:00:00Z", false)
+		completeContextSession(t, svc, 11, 1)
+		addContextMeeting(t, svc, 2, "Belgian Grand Prix", "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z", "2026-07-19T16:00:00Z", false)
+		addContextSession(t, svc, 21, 2, "Practice 1", "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z", "2026-07-17T10:00:00Z", false)
+	}
+
+	t.Run("keeps completed analysis before handoff", func(t *testing.T) {
+		now, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, "2026-07-16T07:59:59Z")
+		svc := contextService(t, now)
+		seed(t, svc)
+		got, err := svc.ResolveWeekendContext(LiveEvidence{})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubDefaultSession == nil || got.RaceHubDefaultSession.Session.SessionKey != 11 || got.RaceHubPreSession {
+			t.Fatalf("race hub default = %+v, pre-session = %t", got.RaceHubDefaultSession, got.RaceHubPreSession)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubRefreshAt != "2026-07-17T08:00:00Z" {
+			t.Fatalf("refresh = %q", got.RaceHubRefreshAt)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("hands off exactly one hour before first session", func(t *testing.T) {
+		now, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, "2026-07-17T08:00:00Z")
+		svc := contextService(t, now)
+		seed(t, svc)
+		got, err := svc.ResolveWeekendContext(LiveEvidence{})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubDefaultSession == nil || got.RaceHubDefaultSession.Session.SessionKey != 21 || !got.RaceHubPreSession {
+			t.Fatalf("race hub handoff = %+v, pre-session = %t", got.RaceHubDefaultSession, got.RaceHubPreSession)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubRefreshAt != "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z" {
+			t.Fatalf("refresh = %q", got.RaceHubRefreshAt)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("keeps the scheduled session pending after its start without live evidence", func(t *testing.T) {
+		now, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z")
+		svc := contextService(t, now)
+		seed(t, svc)
+		got, err := svc.ResolveWeekendContext(LiveEvidence{})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubDefaultSession == nil || got.RaceHubDefaultSession.Session.SessionKey != 21 || !got.RaceHubPreSession {
+			t.Fatalf("scheduled race hub default = %+v, pre-session = %t", got.RaceHubDefaultSession, got.RaceHubPreSession)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubRefreshAt != "2026-07-17T09:00:15Z" {
+			t.Fatalf("refresh = %q", got.RaceHubRefreshAt)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("active live session wins", func(t *testing.T) {
+		now, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, "2026-07-17T08:30:00Z")
+		svc := contextService(t, now)
+		seed(t, svc)
+		got, err := svc.ResolveWeekendContext(LiveEvidence{Active: true, MeetingName: "Belgian Grand Prix", SessionName: "Practice 1", SessionType: "Practice 1"})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubDefaultSession == nil || got.RaceHubDefaultSession.Session.SessionKey != 21 || got.RaceHubPreSession {
+			t.Fatalf("live default = %+v, pre-session = %t", got.RaceHubDefaultSession, got.RaceHubPreSession)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("does not select an empty future session before handoff", func(t *testing.T) {
+		now, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, "2026-07-16T12:00:00Z")
+		svc := contextService(t, now)
+		addContextMeeting(t, svc, 2, "Belgian Grand Prix", "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z", "2026-07-19T16:00:00Z", false)
+		addContextSession(t, svc, 21, 2, "Practice 1", "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z", "2026-07-17T10:00:00Z", false)
+		got, err := svc.ResolveWeekendContext(LiveEvidence{})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if got.RaceHubDefaultSession != nil || got.RaceHubPreSession {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected empty future default: %+v", got)
+		}
+	})
+}

internal/web/context_test.go

@@ -167,3 +167,30 @@ func TestTerminalSessionStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestWeekendContextHandlerSerializesRaceHubRefreshDeadline(t *testing.T) {
+	st := openContextStore(t)
+	seedContextHandler(t, st)
+	if err := st.UpsertSessionResult(store.SessionResult{SessionKey: 11, MeetingKey: 1, DriverNumber: 1, Position: 1}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := st.UpsertMeeting(store.Meeting{MeetingKey: 2, MeetingName: "Belgian Grand Prix", CircuitShortName: "Spa", Year: 2026, DateStart: "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z", DateEnd: "2026-07-19T16:00:00Z"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := st.UpsertSession(store.Session{SessionKey: 21, MeetingKey: 2, SessionName: "Practice 1", SessionType: "Practice", DateStart: "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z", DateEnd: "2026-07-17T10:00:00Z"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	s := NewServer(nil, 0, st)
+	s.query = query.NewServiceWithClock(st, func() time.Time {
+		return time.Date(2026, 7, 17, 8, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	})
+	rr := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.handleWeekendContext(rr, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/v1/weekend-context", nil))
+	var got query.WeekendContext
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rr.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !got.RaceHubPreSession || got.RaceHubRefreshAt != "2026-07-17T09:00:00Z" || got.RaceHubDefaultSession == nil || got.RaceHubDefaultSession.Session.SessionKey != 21 {
+		t.Fatalf("race hub context = %+v", got)
+	}
+}

tests/race-hub.spec.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,42 @@ import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test'
 
 const FULL_SESSION = 9472
 const CORE_ONLY_SESSION = 9000
+const CONTEXT_MEETING = {
+  meeting_key: 1229,
+  meeting_name: 'Monaco',
+  country_code: 'MON',
+}
+const CONTEXT_AVAILABILITY = {
+  source: 'local', schedule: 'available', live_transport: 'unknown', live_session: 'inactive',
+  archive: 'unavailable', local_analysis: 'complete', freshness: 'local', limitations: [],
+}
+
+function completedContext(refreshAt?: string) {
+  return {
+    temporal_state: 'between_weekends',
+    race_hub_default_session: {
+      session: { session_key: FULL_SESSION }, meeting: CONTEXT_MEETING, availability: CONTEXT_AVAILABILITY,
+    },
+    race_hub_pre_session: false,
+    race_hub_refresh_at: refreshAt,
+  }
+}
+
+function pendingContext(refreshAt: string) {
+  return {
+    temporal_state: 'pre_session',
+    race_hub_default_session: {
+      session: {
+        session_key: 9473, meeting_key: 1229, session_name: 'Practice 1', session_type: 'Practice',
+        date_start: '2030-01-01T00:00:01Z', date_end: '2030-01-01T01:00:01Z', gmt_offset: '00:00:00',
+      },
+      meeting: CONTEXT_MEETING,
+      availability: { ...CONTEXT_AVAILABILITY, local_analysis: 'not_applicable' },
+    },
+    race_hub_pre_session: true,
+    race_hub_refresh_at: refreshAt,
+  }
+}
 
 test.describe('Race Hub Weekend Workspace', () => {
   test('lands on the Overview tab with workspace identity', async ({ page }) => {
@@ -102,9 +138,87 @@ test.describe('Race Hub Weekend Workspace', () => {
     )
   })
 
-  test('bare /race-hub redirects to the focus session', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('bare /race-hub shows server-selected completed analysis without changing the URL', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/weekend-context', (route) =>
+      route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify(completedContext()) }),
+    )
     await page.goto('/race-hub')
-    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/session_key=\d+/)
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/race-hub$/)
     await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub')).toBeVisible()
   })
+
+  test('bare /race-hub hands off to pending pre-session state at the refresh deadline', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.clock.install({ time: new Date('2030-01-01T00:00:00Z') })
+    let requests = 0
+    const raceHubRequests: number[] = []
+    page.on('request', (request) => {
+      const url = new URL(request.url())
+      if (url.pathname === '/api/v1/race-hub') {
+        raceHubRequests.push(Number(url.searchParams.get('session_key')))
+      }
+    })
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/weekend-context', (route) => {
+      requests += 1
+      const body = requests === 1
+        ? completedContext('2030-01-01T00:00:01Z')
+        : pendingContext('2030-01-01T00:00:16Z')
+      return route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify(body) })
+    })
+
+    await page.goto('/race-hub')
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub')).toBeVisible()
+    await page.clock.fastForward(1_000)
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub-pre-session')).toBeVisible()
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/race-hub$/)
+    expect(raceHubRequests).toContain(FULL_SESSION)
+    expect(raceHubRequests).not.toContain(9473)
+  })
+
+  test('pre-session state opens the weekend switcher and navigates to an explicit session', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/weekend-context', (route) =>
+      route.fulfill({
+        contentType: 'application/json',
+        body: JSON.stringify(pendingContext('2030-01-01T00:00:16Z')),
+      }),
+    )
+
+    await page.goto('/race-hub')
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub-pre-session')).toBeVisible()
+
+    const switchWeekend = page.getByTestId('rh-switch-weekend')
+    await expect(switchWeekend).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false')
+    await switchWeekend.click()
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('rh-switcher')).toBeVisible()
+    await expect(switchWeekend).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true')
+
+    await page.getByTestId(`rh-switcher-session-${FULL_SESSION}`).click()
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(new RegExp(`/race-hub\\?session_key=${FULL_SESSION}`))
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub')).toBeVisible()
+  })
+
+  test('bare /race-hub recovers when no completed local analysis exists', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/weekend-context', (route) =>
+      route.fulfill({
+        contentType: 'application/json',
+        body: JSON.stringify({ temporal_state: 'between_weekends', race_hub_pre_session: false }),
+      }),
+    )
+
+    await page.goto('/race-hub')
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub-empty')).toContainText('No completed local analysis yet')
+  })
+
+  test('an explicit session URL remains stable when canonical context would refresh', async ({ page }) => {
+    let contextRequested = false
+    await page.route('**/api/v1/weekend-context', (route) => {
+      contextRequested = true
+      return route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify(pendingContext('2030-01-01T00:00:01Z')) })
+    })
+
+    await page.goto(`/race-hub?session_key=${FULL_SESSION}`)
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('race-hub')).toBeVisible()
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(new RegExp(`session_key=${FULL_SESSION}`))
+    expect(contextRequested).toBe(false)
+  })
 })