How F1 live timing works on F1 Helper
F1 Helper’s live timing uses the public OpenF1 feed for positions, gaps, tyres and race control messages. Here is how often it updates and why it can lag.
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By Sandro Pozar, Founder & Editor
Published 1 min read
F1 live timing on F1 Helper is powered by the public OpenF1 API, which publishes positions, intervals, laps, tyre stints, pit stops, weather and race control messages during every session.
What does the live timing page show?
- The timing tower: position, gap to the leader, interval to the car ahead and last lap
- Tyres: the current compound and how many laps old it is, plus the number of pit stops
- Race control messages such as flags, penalties and safety car periods
- Track weather: air and track temperature, wind and rain
New to the coloured tyre icons? F1 tyre compounds explained covers what each one means.
How often does F1 live timing update?
Our servers fetch the latest data every few seconds and share it with every visitor, so the page stays fast no matter how many people are watching at once.
Why can live timing lag behind the TV?
Public timing feeds run a few seconds behind the broadcast, and some data is only published after each lap is completed. Treat the numbers as near-live rather than official — the classified F1 race results and standings are updated once each session is over.
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