# F1 Energy Dashboard — Full Documentation

> Real-time ERS energy recovery and battery visualization for Formula 1 2026 season.
> URL: https://f1-energy-dash.live

## Overview

F1 Energy Dashboard is a second-screen web application designed for data-driven Formula 1 fans. During live F1 races, it displays real-time battery charge levels (State of Charge), energy recovery system modes, and Overtake Mode activation for all 22 drivers on the 2026 grid. The TV broadcast does not show any of this energy data — this app fills that gap.

## The Problem

Starting with the 2026 season, Formula 1 cars derive 50% of their total power from electric motors. The MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit — Kinetic) produces 350 kW, a 3x increase from the previous 120 kW. DRS (Drag Reduction System) has been eliminated and replaced by a driver-activated Overtake Mode that deploys stored electrical energy for a temporary power boost.

Despite energy management being the single most decisive factor in race outcomes under 2026 rules, the TV broadcast provides zero visibility into:
- Battery charge levels (SoC) for each driver
- Whether a driver is harvesting energy, in balanced mode, or deploying
- Whether an attacking driver has enough stored energy to complete an overtake
- How energy strategy differs between teams and drivers
- When Overtake Mode is active

Fans are left guessing. Team radio sometimes hints at energy levels, but it's fragmentary and delayed. Reddit threads analyze energy post-race, but that's too late. Intuition fails because energy management is invisible to the naked eye.

## The Solution

F1 Energy Dashboard presents this data in a simple, glanceable format designed for second-screen use:

### Core Features

1. **SoC Bars** — Visual battery charge indicators for all 22 drivers. Simple percentage bars (like a phone battery), color-coded by team. Updated in real-time.

2. **ERS Mode Indicators** — Three states per driver:
   - 🟢 Harvesting — Recovering energy (car is slower)
   - 🟡 Balanced — Neutral energy flow
   - 🔴 Deploy — Using stored energy (car is faster)

3. **Driver Comparison Panel** — Select any two drivers to see:
   - Side-by-side SoC levels
   - Delta SoC (who has more charge and by how much)
   - Gap in seconds between them
   - Current ERS modes

4. **Timing Tower** — All 22 drivers ranked by position, showing:
   - Position number
   - Driver abbreviation and team color
   - Interval to driver ahead
   - Mini SoC bar

5. **Interactive Track Map** — SVG rendering of the circuit with:
   - Animated dots for all 22 drivers moving along the track
   - Click any dot to select that driver for comparison
   - Selected drivers highlighted with labels and pulsing indicators

6. **Scenario Mode** — Pre-built narrative scenarios demonstrating how energy data reveals overtake opportunities (e.g., Verstappen vs Norris at Albert Park).

### Design Philosophy

- **Glanceable** — One look at the key moment, then back to TV
- **No engineering degree required** — Battery charge is just a percentage
- **Second-screen format** — Complements the broadcast, doesn't replace it
- **Real-time** — Data updates continuously during the race

## 2026 F1 Regulations Context

The 2026 technical regulations represent the biggest powertrain change in F1 since the hybrid era began in 2014:

- **MGU-K**: 350 kW (up from 120 kW) — the single largest power increase in F1 history
- **Total power**: ~700 kW split evenly between ICE and electric
- **Fuel**: Reduced from 110 kg to 70 kg (sustainable fuel mandatory)
- **DRS**: Eliminated entirely
- **Overtake Mode**: Driver-activated electrical boost replacing DRS, limited energy budget per lap
- **Active aerodynamics**: Low-drag mode on straights, high-downforce in corners
- **Weight**: Target 768 kg (reduced from current ~798 kg)

Pre-season testing in Bahrain confirmed that energy deployment strategy is the primary differentiator between competitive and struggling teams.

## Technical Stack

- Framework: Next.js (React)
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Animations: CSS-only (no heavy JS animation libraries)
- Payments: CryptoCloud (BTC, ETH, USDT)
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Hosting: Railway
- Languages: 7 locales (English, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese)

## Pricing

- Monthly: $4.99/month
- Season: $29.99/season (save over 50%)

## 2026 F1 Grid (22 drivers, 11 teams)

1. Red Bull Racing: Max Verstappen (#1), Liam Lawson (#30)
2. Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (#16), Lewis Hamilton (#44)
3. McLaren: Lando Norris (#4), Oscar Piastri (#81)
4. Mercedes: George Russell (#63), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (#12)
5. Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso (#14), Lance Stroll (#18)
6. Alpine: Pierre Gasly (#10), Jack Doohan (#7)
7. Williams: Carlos Sainz (#55), Alexander Albon (#23)
8. RB (Visa Cash App): Yuki Tsunoda (#22), Isack Hadjar (#6)
9. Kick Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg (#27), Gabriel Bortoleto (#5)
10. Haas: Esteban Ocon (#31), Oliver Bearman (#87)
11. Cadillac: TBD

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: I'm not an engineer — will I understand the data?**
A: Yes. The dashboard turns engineering telemetry into simple visual bars. Battery charge is displayed as a percentage — just like your phone battery. No technical knowledge required.

**Q: Won't it distract from watching the race?**
A: No. It's designed as a second-screen experience — one quick glance at the key moment, then back to the broadcast. You don't leave the TV — you add a layer of insight.

**Q: Is the data accurate?**
A: We use the same telemetry streams available to teams and the FIA. Pre-season testing in Bahrain confirmed that energy deployment is the most predictive factor for race outcomes under 2026 regulations.

**Q: Is $3–5/month worth it?**
A: One "I called it!" moment per race pays for itself. Most fans report they can't go back to watching without energy data after their first GP with the dashboard.

## URL

https://f1-energy-dash.live

## Contact

f1energydash@gmail.com