I built a live F1 “Copilot” that tells you what’s actually happening during the race

[davidcunha]

Hey everyone,

Over the last month, I built a product I personally wanted while watching Formula 1 races.

👉 https://www.f1copilot.live/en

Problem

When I started watching live F1 races:

• The broadcast often focuses on some battles
• Real action and strategy shifts can go unnoticed
• Commentary is not clear, especially for new fans or casual viewers
• Critical undercuts, VSC/Flags impact aren’t obvious
• You know something changed, but not why

Solution: F1 Copilot

• F1 Copilot sends real-time alerts to your phone during a live race so you understand what’s happening, why it’s happening
• When real action is developing outside the main broadcast
• It’s built as a second-screen companion, something you check while sitting on the couch watching the race
• No timing screens. No spreadsheets. No guesswork.

I used historical race data (via OpenF1) to validate and test algorithms

Who It’s For

• New fans trying to understand race dynamics
• Casual viewers who don’t want to decode strategy manually
• Fans frustrated by missing real on-track action or their favourite drivers

Current Status

• Live and in testing
• Still polishing edge cases
• I have a ton of ideas to improve this product, but I'm taking baby steps

It will be free to use for now and later: small pay-per-race model (no subscription fatigue)

Would love feedback on:

• Product positioning
• Alert quality and signal-to-noise (when it's released)
• UX improvements

Appreciate any thoughts, especially from F1 fans who’ve felt the same frustration watching races.

[br-g]

Looks awesome!
Would love to test it once it's released :)

[davidcunha]

@br-g If you can share here, are you an Android or iOS user? I'm testing next week with the Australian GP, as so far I was only able to test with historical data and live timing data from the Bahrain pre season tests.

[br-g]

iOS!

[davidcunha]

After a great start to the season (regs apart), here are the alerts triggered across the 58 laps in real time. In the app, they appear color-coded by the team’s main colors, while push notifications are text-only. The app is not live yet. I need more testing in China.

🚦 Melbourne 2026 - We're picking up the signal. Don't go anywhere...

LAP 3 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P8: Gasly right behind Ocon. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 4 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P10: Bearman right behind Bortoleto. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 4 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P16: Lawson right behind Colapinto. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 4 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P9: Bortoleto right behind Gasly. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 4 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P15: Colapinto right behind Sainz. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P6: Norris right behind Lindblad. Pressure building.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P1: Russell right behind Leclerc. Pressure building.

LAP 6 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P6: Norris catching Lindblad, 0.28s faster each lap. Overtake could happen soon. (lap 5 of battle)

LAP 6 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P10: Verstappen right behind Bearman. Pressure building.

LAP 7 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P1: Russell right behind Leclerc. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 9 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P6: Norris right behind Lindblad. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 10 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P3: Antonelli catching Hamilton, 0.27s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap.

LAP 12 · RACE CONTROL · 🟡 VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR
Virtual Safety Car out! Tough luck for Colapinto, they pitted recently and just missed the free pit window.

LAP 12 · PIT STRATEGY · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Norris, Ocon, Gasly, Sainz, Lawson, Alonso, and Stroll pitted under the Virtual Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 12 · PIT STRATEGY · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Russell, Antonelli, Albon, and Bottas pitted under the Virtual Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 13 · BATTLE · 💨 PULLING AWAY
Battle for P6: Verstappen pulling ahead of Bearman, 0.43s faster each lap. Should have a safe gap in about 3 laps. (lap 9 of battle)

LAP 16 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P10: Gasly catching Ocon, 0.23s faster each lap. Overtake could happen soon. (lap 15 of battle)

LAP 18 · RACE CONTROL · 🟡 VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR
Virtual Safety Car out!

LAP 18 · PIT STRATEGY · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Lindblad, Verstappen, Bearman, Bortoleto, Perez pitted under the Virtual Safety Car.

LAP 23 · BATTLE · 💨 PULLING AWAY
Battle for P10: Gasly pulling away from Ocon, 0.41s faster each lap. Should be out of reach in about 3 laps. (lap 22 of battle)

LAP 25 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P12: Albon catching Sainz, 0.4s faster each lap. (lap 5 of battle)

LAP 25 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P7: Bearman right behind Lindblad. Pressure building.

LAP 26 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P1: Russell catching Hamilton, 0.43s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap.

LAP 27 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P7: Bearman right behind Lindblad. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 31 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P10: Ocon catching Gasly, 0.24s faster each lap. Overtake could happen soon. (lap 30 of battle)

LAP 32 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P5: Verstappen catching Norris, 0.61s faster each lap. Pressure building. (lap 3 of battle)

LAP 39 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P14: Sainz right behind Colapinto. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 44 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P5: Verstappen catching Norris, 0.23s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap. (lap 4 of battle)

LAP 47 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P5: Verstappen right behind Norris. Pressure building.

LAP 49 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P12: Lawson catching Albon, 0.85s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap.

LAP 53 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P12: Lawson right behind Albon. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 57 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P3: Hamilton catching Leclerc, 0.41s faster each lap. Pressure building. (lap 7 of battle)

LAP 58 · 🏁 Russell wins the race!

[davidcunha]

I'm looking into signaling strategy impact, like what happened with Ferrari when they decided not to pit under the VSC, while the teams behind did. Perhaps a new alert or messaging adjusment.

[br-g]

Seems really interesting for following the race without watching

[davidcunha]

Seems really interesting for following the race without watching

Yes, exactly. Also, it works when you are watching the race but the live stream usually focuses only on the battle at the front, while you might be interested in a midfield team or another driver who is not in the spotlight during that race. You get that push notification right on your phone when it happens. Right now, it returns events for the full grid, but I want to build something that allows you to follow specific drivers or teams.

During my tests in China, I found several bugs in the battle events that I had to fix. I will test more in Japan, but then there will be a drought in April.... 😱

[davidcunha]

Finally in Suzuka, we were able to get steady alerts from lights out to the checkered flag! And could even test a new alert/completion of an existing one, which includes when a driver may be trying to cover another one:

---

LAP 17 · UNDERCUT · 🔀 UNDERCUT ATTEMPT
Leclerc just pitted. Possibly trying to gain track position on Russell! He's on fresh hards. Also covering Norris who pitted last lap.

---

🚦 Suzuka 2026 - We're picking up the signal. Don't go anywhere...

LAP 3 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P8: Verstappen right behind Lindblad. Pressure building.

LAP 4 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P21: Bottas right behind Stroll. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 💨 PULLING AWAY
Battle for P2: Russell pulling ahead of Leclerc, 0.71s faster each lap. Should have a safe gap in about 1 lap.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 💨 PULLING AWAY
Battle for P11: Hadjar pulling ahead of Lawson, 0.49s faster each lap. Should have a safe gap in about 3 laps.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P4: Antonelli right behind Norris. Pressure building.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P14: Bortoleto right behind Bearman. Pressure building.

LAP 5 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P17: Albon right behind Hulkenberg. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 6 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P14: Bortoleto catching Bearman, 0.23s faster each lap. Overtake could happen soon (lap 3 of battle)

LAP 6 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P20: Stroll right behind Alonso. Pressure building.

LAP 6 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P4: Antonelli right behind Norris. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 6 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P16: Hulkenberg right behind Sainz. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 8 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P10: Hadjar right behind Lindblad. Pressure building.

LAP 10 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P13: Bortoleto catching Colapinto, 0.31s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap (lap 3 of battle)

LAP 11 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P10: Hadjar right behind Lindblad. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 12 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P11: Lawson right behind Hadjar. Pressure building.

LAP 13 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P3: Antonelli right behind Leclerc. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 15 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P20: Alonso right behind Stroll. Pressure building.

LAP 15 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P13: Bortoleto right behind Colapinto. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 16 · UNDERCUT · 🔀 UNDERCUT ATTEMPT
Bearman just pitted. Possibly trying to gain track position on Bortoleto! He's on fresh hards. Watch their lap times over the next laps.

LAP 17 · UNDERCUT · 🔀 UNDERCUT ATTEMPT
Leclerc just pitted. Possibly trying to gain track position on Russell! He's on fresh hards. Also covering Norris who pitted last lap.

LAP 17 · UNDERCUT · 🔀 UNDERCUT ATTEMPT
Colapinto just pitted. Possibly trying to gain track position on Hadjar! He's on fresh hards. Also covering Bearman who pitted last lap.

LAP 18 · UNDERCUT · 🔀 UNDERCUT ATTEMPT
Lindblad just pitted. Possibly trying to gain track position on Ocon! He's on fresh hards. Also covering Colapinto who pitted last lap.

LAP 18 · BATTLE · 💨 PULLING AWAY
Battle for P10: Hadjar pulling away from Lawson, 0.44s faster each lap. Should be out of reach in about 3 laps (lap 15 of battle)

LAP 19 · COVER PIT · 🛡️ COVER STOP
Ocon just pitted. Possibly covering Lindblad who pitted last lap. He's on fresh hards.

LAP 20 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P10: Hulkenberg catching Bortoleto, 0.45s faster each lap. Pressure building.

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🟡 SAFETY CAR
Safety Car deployed! The field will bunch up. Tough luck for Leclerc, Colapinto, Piastri, Lindblad, Ocon, Hadjar, Bottas and Russell, they pitted recently and lost their gap advantage.

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Perez pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Stroll pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Alonso pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Antonelli pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Hamilton pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Gasly pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Verstappen pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Lawson pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Bortoleto pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Sainz pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Albon pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 22 · SAFETY CAR · 🎁 FREE PIT STOP
Hulkenberg pitted under the Safety Car. Great timing, this was essentially a free stop!

LAP 32 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P7: Verstappen right behind Gasly. Pressure building.

LAP 32 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P3: Russell right behind Hamilton. Pressure building.

LAP 32 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P12: Hulkenberg right behind Hadjar. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 32 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P15: Colapinto right behind Sainz. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 32 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P11: Hadjar right behind Bortoleto. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 33 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P9: Ocon right behind Lawson. Pressure building.

LAP 35 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P4: Leclerc right behind Russell. Pressure building.

LAP 35 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P11: Hulkenberg right behind Hadjar. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 39 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P3: Leclerc right behind Hamilton. Pressure building.

LAP 40 · BATTLE · 💨 PULLING AWAY
Battle for P13: Bortoleto pulling ahead of Lindblad, 0.42s faster each lap. Should have a safe gap in about 3 laps.

LAP 41 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P11: Hulkenberg catching Hadjar, 0.22s faster each lap. Could attack in about 2 laps (lap 13 of battle)

LAP 42 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P5: Norris catching Russell, 0.34s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap (lap 5 of battle)

LAP 45 · UNDERCUT · 🔀 UNDERCUT ATTEMPT
Albon just pitted. Possibly trying to gain track position on Colapinto! He's on fresh softs. Watch their lap times over the next laps.

LAP 45 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P12: Lindblad catching Bortoleto, 0.27s faster each lap. Could attack in about 1 lap (lap 7 of battle)

LAP 45 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P5: Norris right behind Hamilton. Pressure building.

LAP 50 · BATTLE · ⚔️ GAP CLOSING
Battle for P5: Hamilton catching Norris, 0.41s faster each lap. Pressure building (lap 7 of battle)

LAP 52 · BATTLE · 🎯 ATTACK RANGE
Battle for P7: Verstappen right behind Gasly. Overtake attempt likely.

LAP 53 · 🏁 RACE OVER
Antonelli wins the race!

[davidcunha]

@br-g finally it's here! https://gridcopilot.live/en I had to change name, etc, still it's available for beta, but waiting for review in the AppStore. They didn't like that I used "F1", let's see if they don't complain about drivers and team names...

Feel free to drop your email in the form from that landing page, you'll get an invite soon after it.

[br-g]

Awesome! I have added my email