Live F1

Live F1 is a great tool for Linux users who want to keep up with the latest from the official Formula-1 website without needing a Java-enabled browser. It’s super handy!

Real-Time Updates

This software shows live timing information right from the track during qualifying, races, and practice sessions. However, you will still need an account on formula1.com.

How It Works

The cool part? Live F1 connects directly to the live timing feed. This data stream is available at live-timing.formula1.com on port 4321. The way it works is a bit unusual though; instead of sending data whenever it has something new, the server sends bursts of info when it gets a ping from the client.

Keeping Connection Alive

If there’s no activity for more than a second, we make sure to send out a little signal (the 0x10 byte) to check if there's more data coming in.

The Data Format

The data format might seem tricky at first glance. It's in binary and has some interesting bit mapping going on. Basically, each packet starts with a two-byte header that tells us what type of packet it is and how much data will follow.

A Closer Look at Packets

When we look closely at the header, we see that swapping around certain bytes can help make sense of things. The types of packets can be identified by their type field and car ID field. When the car ID is zero, these packets usually carry system messages; otherwise, they’re all about cars!

Types of Packets

• Special Packets: These use their data field for specific info and don’t have extra following data.


• Long Packets: They store how many bytes will follow in the stream and can hold up to 127 bytes of data!


• Short Packets: These split their fields into parts and can hold up to 14 bytes.

A Unique System Packet

There’s also this special system packet (type 0x07) that comes with no length or data but still has two additional bytes after it!

Caution with Encryption

While packet headers are clear, some following data might be encrypted. So make sure you know how to decrypt it before diving into its details! For more insights or to download this awesome tool, check out this link.