Away We Go Podcast

Ep85: The Insider's Travel Guide to Monza and Sepang with Stewart Bell

Two race trips dominate this episode: Monza next week, and Sepang, hosting Malaysia's first Formula 1 race since 2017. Journalist and author Stewart Bell has worked both. At Monza he explains what the oldest track on the calendar feels like on foot: the historic banking too steep to walk up, and Ascari taken at speeds that look impossible from trackside. The practical layer is all here too. Stay in Milan near a metro, take the train from Milano Centrale in roughly 25 minutes, and leave the car alone. Then eat properly: risotto alla Milanese, cotoletta, and aperitivo with a Select Spritz instead of an Aperol. Sepang is a different trip. The circuit sits beside the airport but more than an hour from Kuala Lumpur, so Stewart shares how he plans a race weekend there, along with the guided street food day in Chinatown that produced the best laksa of his life, and what to do in KL beyond the track. On the racing, Kimi Antonelli takes his engine penalty at his home race, which Di rates as a smart call by Mercedes, and by Stewart's numbers Ferrari's upgrades are worth around 30 horsepower, though Mercedes start as favourites. Hanging over it all: Formula 1 has until mid-September to decide whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi can host the final rounds. Stewart says the fallback is Imola in December, with rumours of Malaysia again and even China opening next season. Di is gutted about not being in Monza. Happier news from Stewart: his book cracked Amazon's overall top 100 in its first week and regularly sits in the top 10 list for motorsport books. And the best news, his publisher Penguin are interested in book two. Next week: the Italian Grand Prix from Monza. In this episode: Stewart's promotional tour: radio spots, a nerve-wracking live cross on the Today Show, and the book hitting Amazon's overall top 100 in its first week Book two is confirmed with Penguin but the topic isn't, and Di invites listeners to drop suggestions in the comments What Monza feels like in person: the banking, the Tifosi, and Ascari at speeds that look impossible Di on Mercedes taking Kimi Antonelli's engine penalty at his home race, and Stewart on the chance it gives him to fight through the field Ferrari's engine upgrades, worth around 30 horsepower in total by Stewart's estimate, against Mercedes as outright favourites Getting to the circuit: trains from Milano Centrale in roughly 25 minutes, the Biassono Lesmo Parco station on the Lesmo side, and why driving isn't worth it What to eat in Milan: risotto alla Milanese, cotoletta alla Milanese, and aperitivo with a Select Spritz instead of an Aperol The waiter in Puglia who flatly refused to make a cappuccino after lunch Sepang hosts the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix, Malaysia's first F1 race since 2017: right beside the airport, over an hour from KL, with a direct train to the circuit Stewart's private street food tour through Chinatown, and the grey shrimp paste that transformed a bowl of asam laksa KL beyond the track: the Petronas Towers, hornbills at the Bird Park, the Batu Caves, and roti canai for under three dollars The mid-September deadline on Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the Imola fallback, and rumours of China opening next season Hosted by Dianne Bortoletto, Instagram @travelletto. Stewart Bell is a journalist, broadcaster and author of Formula 1: The World's Most Brutal Sport, published by Penguin. Get the book: https://amzn.to/4nAWaNj Stewart on Instagram: https://instagram.com/StewartBellF1 Stewart's website: https://www.stewart-bell.com Listen to Stewart Bell in Ep72 where he talks about his book and his F1 career. . Follow Away We Go Podcast: Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Subscribe to Away We Go Podcast wherever you listen, and drop us a like or comment if you're watching on YouTube.

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Ep84: Max out, Piastri sacrificed, Zandvoort says goodbye - F1 Dutch Grand Prix

McLaren put Oscar Piastri on hards, pitted him for another set of hards 13 laps later, then cost him a further second and a half with a 3.8 stop. He went from third to sixth. Di and Ciara Gillan spend most of this episode trying to work out why. Lando Norris won it, his second in a row, and left Zandvoort sounding like a man who thinks a second title is live. He is 83 points behind Kimi Antonelli with 11 races to go. Max Verstappen was out on the first racing lap. He caught a wet patch, hit the wall twice, and his car came apart, at his home race, in the last Dutch Grand Prix Zandvoort will hold. Di explains why the circuit walked away: no government backing, all three days had to sell out, and a long contract with Liberty Media was a risk the promoter would not take. Mercedes ordered Russell to hand second place to Antonelli. Russell's response on the radio, and his response in the pen afterwards, were two different things. The question the episode does not settle: with Mark Webber no longer welcome in the McLaren garage, who is arguing Piastri's case during a race? Russell arrived engaged and relaxed and won the sprint. Non-race weekend next, then Monza. In this episode Why Zandvoort is off the calendar: no government underwriting, all three days had to sell out, and a long Liberty Media deal was too much risk. The circuit walked, not Formula 1. Verstappen catches a wet patch on the first real lap, hits the wall twice, and is out at his home race in front of an orange grandstand. Bortoleto spins 360 behind him and Hülkenberg misses T-boning him by inches through a wall of smoke. Norris wins back to back and starts talking title on the team radio, 83 points down with 11 to go. McLaren put Piastri on hards, then on hards again after 13 laps, then a 3.8 second stop. Ciara: "I feel like Piastri is driving a tractor." Piastri's restart overtake on Russell, in a place nobody overtakes, which left the Sky Sports commentary team lost for words. Ciara's argument for Piastri: at every other top team the two drivers are within reach of each other. Only at McLaren is there a gulf. Hadjar out with a wrist injury from boxing training, Lawson promoted to Red Bull and finishing seventh, Tsunoda back on the grid in 11th. Sainz slides into Albon on lap 66 and takes a penalty, weeks after both re-signed with Williams. The rumoured 30 million euro deal is still just a rumour. Half the 2027 grid is unsigned: both Mercedes, both Racing Bulls, both Aston Martins, both Haas, both Audi, plus Hadjar and Colapinto. Mercedes swap Russell and Antonelli for second. Russell to his engineer: "We've just lost a double podium here, mate." Ferrari's radio war: Leclerc nearly into the back of Hamilton, and Hamilton asking whether he is a guinea pig out there. Six retirements over 72 laps on the second shortest circuit after Monaco, and Di's tribute to the Dutch fans. Ciara on what Piastri actually needs: to start demanding things, or someone in his corner doing it for him. Hosted by Dianne Bortoletto, Instagram @travelletto. With Ciara Gillan of Formula Live Pulse, Instagram @ciaragillan16. Formula Live Pulse: https://www.f1livepulse.com/en/ Follow Away We Go Podcast: Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep83: Max’s exit clause just kicked in

Silly season is meant to be silly. This one has been oddly missing all the silliness — until you look closer. Di and Ciara Gillan from Formula Live Pulse close out the summer break with the rumours that actually matter: Max Verstappen’s exit clause has been triggered, Carlos Sainz has reportedly been offered €30 million to stay at Williams, and Cadillac has already sacked its team boss six months into its debut season. Plus the question nobody wants to answer out loud — if Max walks, who replaces him? And would you wish that seat on Oscar Piastri? Away from the paddock politics there’s good news: George Russell and Carmen Montero Mundt are engaged (with a yellow diamond reportedly worth around a million dollars), and Charles and Alexandra Leclerc are expecting. We also get into the 2027 calendar chaos — Imola as a possible season finale, the ticket queue that caught everyone off guard, and whether Germany, Rwanda, Cape Town or Buenos Aires are realistic. Racing’s back next week. Dutch Grand Prix. See you there. Follow Follow Dianne Bortoletto @Travelletto Ciara Gillan — her F1 video content at the moment is excellent: @ciaragillian16 Follow Away We Go Podcast: Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Subscribe to Away We Go Podcast wherever you listen, and drop us a like or comment if you’re watching on YouTube. Next week: Dutch Grand Prix.

EP82: Hungarian GP ... then McLaren happened

Dianne Bortoletto and Ciara Gillan recap the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, where Lando Norris took his first win of the season and McLaren's strategy left Oscar Piastri fuming before a gearbox failure ended his race. Recorded with Ciara reporting from Budapest on her final morning in the city, and Di in Melbourne. 70 laps, 4.38 kilometres a lap, 14 corners, all of them newly named after Formula 1 drivers, and 310,000 fans through the gates across the weekend. Piastri started third after Lewis Hamilton was penalised for impeding him in qualifying and Kimi Antonelli picked up a grid penalty of his own. By turn three, Piastri had the lead. He held it until McLaren pitted him into traffic, where a touch with a recovering Carlos Sainz cost him time, and then pitted Norris into clean air. Piastri's radio to his engineer, "I can't even talk to you right now," said plenty, though he had made peace with the strategy by the time he faced the media, repeating Andrea Stella's line that the stop was about beating Hamilton. He retired with a gearbox failure. Norris won ahead of Max Verstappen, who complained about the Red Bull all weekend and then drove the wheels off it, including a moment where tyres actually brushed with no damage done. Antonelli completed the podium and looked utterly wrecked afterwards, having come from seventh on the grid with a very late second stop just before the virtual safety car. Ferrari's afternoon: Charles Leclerc fourth, Hamilton fifth, and a pit call for Hamilton with around 15 laps to go that he said afterwards he regretted, because his tyres were fine. That stop then earned him a five-second penalty for exceeding the pit lane limit by 0.1 kilometres an hour. George Russell's anti-stall kicked in on the grid and dropped him to 22nd by the end of lap one. He recovered to seventh. Isack Hadjar sixth, Liam Lawson eighth, Nico Hulkenberg ninth for his first points of the season, Arvid Lindblad tenth, Gabriel Bortoleto eleventh. Both Cadillacs retired, Sergio Perez with his brakes on fire and Valtteri Bottas limping into the pits. Di had Ferrari one-two on both her Predict the Podium accounts. It did not go well. Credit where it is due: Norris is the reigning world champion, the McLaren had pace all weekend, and Hungary suits the team. Norris won there last year and Piastri the year before. Di and Ciara also address the abuse being directed at Hamilton in social media comments, and make clear there is no place for it on any of the show's accounts. Ciara's report from the track: the Hungaroring is only 30 minutes from Budapest, the organised shuttle was around 38 euro return and worth every cent, but getting out on day two took two and a half hours from seat to bus. Free water, plenty of toilets and a decent fan zone on one side of the ledger. Dust bowls, almost no shade, and a grandstand ticket check every single time you left your seat on the other. Bring food. A sandwich at the track cost 20 euro, about 32 Australian dollars. On Budapest itself: the Danube, the architecture, the thermal baths, the Time Out Market food hall, good Lebanese and Italian eating, and Di's story of the women-only bath house she braved in her 20s. It is no longer the cheap city either of them remembers. Also in this episode: the blue flag system and the GPS both failing during the race, what that chaos may have cost Piastri, and Malaysia confirmed at Sepang from 2 to 4 October, sitting between Azerbaijan and Singapore, which opens up a back-to-back for Southern Hemisphere fans. Away We Go is on a break for the four-week racing shutdown, with guest episodes to come before the Dutch Grand Prix. Follow Ciara at Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep81: Kimi keeps winning, Russell in tears, Belgium BP

Dianne and Ciara Gillan recap the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, where Kimi Antonelli took pole by the biggest margin of the season, on his dad's birthday, and converted it into another win to extend his lead in the Drivers' Championship. Recorded late Sunday night in WA after a rare dry Spa race. Also on the table this week: George Russell's heartbreaking lap-one DNF after clipping with Lewis Hamilton and the five-second penalty that neither Sky Sports nor we agreed with, Russell close to tears in his post-crash interview, Mercedes admitting all Merc-powered cars had start-line issues, Max Verstappen stealing second on lap one thanks to a tow from Isack Hadjar and the FIA's confusing 30-place grid penalty, Charles Leclerc briefly leading the race, the Piastri and Norris team orders drama with Lando's engineer telling him "no yo-yoing, I'll explain later," Hamilton nearly running over his pit crew and the unsafe release investigation, Norris's slow pit stop that cost him a podium shot, Arvid Lindblad's career-best qualifying in P7, Gabriele Bortoleto's equal career-best in P8, Kimi's growing calmness in the car, and the Leclerc and Piastri incident that somehow escaped a penalty while Hamilton's didn't. Plus a fun stat from Autosport: if you started in F1 at 20 and made every Q3 for 15 seasons before retiring at 35, you'd still be 50 short of Hamilton's Q3 record. And Lewis Hamilton going soft-launch public with Kim Kardashian and family on social media. Nicole Piastri's favourite hotel in the world? Right beside the Spa circuit. Budapest next weekend, then the summer break. Silly season is about to properly ramp up, and hopefully some clarity on the Middle East races before the next round. Follow Ciara at Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

Ep80: Silly season: Max, Oscar, Horner

The mid-season break has barely started and the paddock is already on fire. Di is in Margaret River, Ciara is in Berlin, and this week they unpack every rumour worth talking about in the 2026 silly season. Is Max Verstappen really talking to McLaren? What would actually be in it for him, and what would Jos Verstappen do inside a team with two number one drivers? Then there's the other side of that swap: Oscar Piastri to Red Bull. Di and Ciara debate whether Laurent Mekies can build a championship-winning car around him, and whether McLaren would ever really back Oscar to win a title now Lando has one on the board. Also on the table this week: Christian Horner's next move and why Ferrari feels wrong on every level, the Flavio Briatore factor at Alpine, Gucci officially joining the grid and the fashion war brewing with Louis Vuitton, Yuki Tsunoda linked to Haas with money behind him, Fernando Alonso's future at Aston Martin, and whether Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are all at risk if the Middle East situation escalates. Plus a fun fact from the Second Seat Podcast about Oscar's cursed special helmets, and a big F1 Academy moment: 16-year-old Ciara Battig taking pole and P2 on debut as the wildcard at Silverstone, Abbi Pulling becoming the first woman to win a GB3 race, and Nina Gatterman testing an Alpine F1 car. Back next week after Spa. Follow Ciara at Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep79: Ferrari's 250th, a safety car finish and the British GP that should have been

Show notes: The British Grand Prix delivered wheel-to-wheel battles, a championship leader fighting a broken car, and a finish that left almost every fan deflated. Charles Leclerc took Ferrari's 250th Formula 1 win at Silverstone, but it came under a safety car after Max Verstappen's late DNF, which is exactly as unsatisfying as it sounds. Dianne Bortoletto and Ciara Gillan, motorsport journalist at Formula Live Pulse (f1livepulse.com), break down everything: Kimi Antonelli's fighting spirit on a mechanically compromised car, George Russell's fortunate second place, Ferrari's decision to keep Lewis Hamilton's five-second penalty quiet until the pit stop window, and the track limits debate that nobody can fully agree on. There's also a fun fact about who actually controls the lights at the start of every Formula 1 race. This week: the safety car controversy, the track limits debate, Oscar Piastri's nightmare race, the sprint results and Predict the Podium leaderboard update. Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Next race: the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

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Ep78: Ferrari disappoints in Austria

Ferrari arrived in Austria with a big upgrade package and left with Lewis Hamilton fifth and Charles Leclerc eighth. George Russell inherited pole position beating a split-second yellow flag, then he led every lap, and won. Dianne Bortoletto and Ciara Gillan break down the race, the qualifying controversy, Kimi Antonelli's chaotic opening laps, and why the Red Bull Ring broadcast left viewers feeling seasick. Also this week: the FIA removes presidential term limits, Rachel Brookes departs Sky Sports, Cadillac's double DNF inside five laps, and Carlos Sainz's proposal that would change Formula 1 entirely. Ciara Gillan is co-founder of Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com Predict the Podium: https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ Subscribe to the Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep77: Classic Monaco F1 just €150, with Colin Johnston

Most Formula 1 fans file Monaco under one day, one budget you don't have: yacht money, championship-week crowds, a Sunday grandstand seat that costs more than the flights. Motorsport historian Colin Johnston has spent years doing it the other way. This week Colin joins Dianne Bortoletto to show how to experience Monaco, Goodwood and the great old European circuits as an independent traveller, without the championship-weekend price tag. He makes the case for the Monaco Grand Prix Historique: the same iconic circuit, the cars you grew up watching, a fully open paddock, and three days of racing from 150 euros. He breaks down where to sit at Sainte Dévote, why Menton beats Nice as a base, and the 7 euro 80 train ride that drops you right at the track. There's Monza in 2024 from inside the paddock the day Charles Leclerc won, the Tifosi compared to Irish rally fans, and why Goodwood Members' Meeting is the most carefully curated weekend in motorsport. Colin writes Formula 1 history for Mercedes, so the conversation also turns to myth-busting the 1950s, the Mille Miglia and Stirling Moss, and whether something real is lost from the sport now that the danger has gone. Plus the final three: the race Colin would travel to, the race destination he would pick for a holiday, and the driver, dead or alive, he would take on holiday. Colin Johnston Website: https://racingdaydreams.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinjohnstonuk/ X: https://x.com/CJGrandPrix Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjgrandprix/ Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep76: Hamilton's first win wearing red - Ferrari win in Barcelona

Dianne is wearing every piece of Ferrari merch she owns, because Ferrari are finally back. After a 595-day drought, Lewis Hamilton took his first race win in red at the Barcelona Catalunya Grand Prix. It came almost to the day, 30 years after Michael Schumacher won his own first race for Ferrari at the very same track, and Hamilton now has seven wins in Barcelona, one more than Schumacher ever managed. If that does not give you goosebumps, Di is not sure what will. Di and Ciara Gillan from Formula Live Pulse break down how it actually happened, because for the first half it did not look like a Hamilton win at all. A slow start gave way to a bold three-stop strategy, and once Lewis came out on fresh tyres he was on rails, increasing his lead every lap and finishing nearly 20 seconds clear. He even said afterwards that the virtual safety car robbed him of a proper battle, which tells you everything about the confidence in that garage right now. They get into the Lewis effect at Ferrari, from the brake change to the way Charles Leclerc says having Hamilton in the team has shifted how the whole operation works. There is plenty to unpack elsewhere too, with Kimi Antonelli still leading the championship despite a heartbreaking DNF, another retirement for Leclerc, and a George Russell second place that Di reckons owed more to luck than pace. This was a brutal race for reliability with eight DNFs, and the conversation turns to the FIA's decision to reverse Pierre Gasly's Monaco penalty while leaving everyone else's in place. Di and Ciara do not hold back on the precedent that sets. There is also the Fernando Alonso retirement chatter, the Flavio Briatore rumours, and a reminder to go and read up on Crashgate if you do not already know it. Next week is a non-race week with a very special guest interview, and then the season rolls on to Austria. Play along with Predict the Podium at awaywegopodcast.com/play-along and see if you can beat Di on her own leaderboard. Listen and follow Away We Go Podcast Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep75: Kimi Antonelli's Monaco masterclass and a race of chaos

Monaco is the race everyone loves to call boring, and this year it was anything but. Nineteen-year-old Kimi Antonelli took pole, led every lap, and won, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the Monaco Grand Prix and stretching his championship lead to 66 points after just six rounds. It is the kind of statistic that stops you in your tracks. Behind him, the race fell apart. Max Verstappen stalled on the grid and was out before the first corner, the first of seven retirements from a field of 22. The stewards handed out penalties like a casino dealer on a hot streak, with pit lane speeding catching driver after driver, and a late red flag set up a standing restart that Antonelli handled without flinching. Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari and equalled Ayrton Senna's record of eight Monaco podiums, a moment that clearly meant something to him. Isack Hadjar held off George Russell for a hard-fought third while wrestling a car he was fighting the entire race, and to Di's surprise and delight, Fernando Alonso banked Aston Martin's first point of the season in tenth. Away from the track, Ciara and Di got into Kim Kardashian's Formula 1 debut and that very awkward grid walk moment, the tired idea that the sport is only now discovering glamour when it has always been there. Controversy is never far in F1 and Mohammed Ben Sulayem's push to scrap FIA term limits is right up there. Di applauds Charles Leclerc committing his future to Ferrari while Ciara questions it. And Las Vegas extends its deal to 2037, the only race Formula 1 actually owns. Ciara Gillan joins from Formula Live Pulse. Follow the next race with live telemetry on the Formula Live Pulse app: https://f1livepulse.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast You’ll find more photos and videos on the Away We Go Podcast social media channels: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads | and also on Substack Or drop us a line at hello@awaywegopodcast.com Your support means the world to us - please rate and review our show on your favourite podcast listening app, we might even read out your review next episode Formula Live Pulse App: Formula Live Pulse is the ultimate second-screen experience for F1 fans. Try it for free for 7 days - no credit card needed f1livepulse.com App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/formula-live-pulse/id6739639442 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.f1livepulse&pcampaignid=web_share. #Formula1 #F1 #F1podcast #Formula1podcast #FormulaOne #bestf1podcast #australianF1podcast #femalef1podcast #femaleF1podcasthosts #f1travel #travelwriter #f1creator #f1writer

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Ep74: From the fashion closet to the F1 paddock: Emily Selleck

Emily Selleck walked into her first Formula 1 paddock at the Australian Grand Prix and had an interview with Max Verstappen within five minutes. Five years later, she is one of the most well-connected Australians in the sport, having covered races across the calendar while building a distinctive perspective at the intersection of motorsport, culture, and commercial strategy. In this episode, host Dianne Bortoletto and regular co-host Ciara Gillan from Formula Live Pulse talk with Emily about what the paddock really looks like from the inside. The conversation covers Oscar Piastri's championship potential and the McLaren internal dynamics that complicate it, how brands are navigating an increasingly crowded F1 landscape, and where the sport still has ground to gain in engaging women as a serious audience. Emily also goes behind the scenes at Carbone Beach, the Miami Grand Prix's most exclusive hospitality event, where race winners and celebrities converge on the Sunday of race weekend. She shares her take on what makes a genuinely great brand activation in Formula 1, and why the Australian Grand Prix's approach to female partnerships sets a benchmark worth following. Meanwhile Di wants to know why the sport's merchandise offering is still leaving significant opportunity on the table. Now based in New York after nearly a decade in the city, Emily is moving from journalism into brand strategy, helping teams and commercial partners cut through the noise in Formula 1's most dynamic era. Follow Emily Selleck: https://www.instagram.com/emselleck/ Predict the Podium (Play Along): https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ Connect with Away We Go Podcast Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com

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Ep73: Antonelli makes it four, Lewis makes it emotional and McLaren makes it painful

The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix delivered one of the most action-packed races of the season so far, and Dianne Bortoletto and Ciara Gillan have plenty to say about it. Kimi Antonelli claimed his fourth consecutive Formula 1 win in Montreal, becoming the only driver in history to win his first four races back to back. It should have been a George Russell weekend, and for the sprint it was, but a power unit failure on lap 29 ended his race and handed Antonelli the kind of result that championship battles are made of. Lewis Hamilton stepped onto the second step of the podium with his mum watching from the grandstands, Max Verstappen took his first podium of the season, and McLaren had a weekend to forget. Di and Ciara dig into the McLaren strategy call that had Oscar Piastri on the radio saying exactly what he thought, the Kimi and George battle that had Toto Wolff on the radio more than once, and what George's very un-George-like reaction at retirement tells us about where his head is at in this championship fight. There's also a look at the younger drivers making their mark, including Isack Hadjar going wheel to wheel with Max, and Franco Colapinto quietly delivering again for Alpine. In the rumour mill: Gucci and Alpine, BYD potentially entering as a 12th team with Christian Horner's name attached, and a conversation about whether the Indian Grand Prix could find its way back onto the calendar. Plus, if you're heading to Monaco, check out the Paddock Journal Atelier, set up at the Pop Up Hotel in Cap Ferrat just outside Monaco, offering fashion fittings, stylists and talks: https://thepopuphotel.com/hotels/silverstone/the-pop-up-paddock/ We also mention our episode with Jason Beste, the Mercedes head chef who worked the Indian Grand Prix during Nico Rosberg's championship year. Find Ep7 here: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ebb35ceb-f2cc-47ce-b002-4d1d5524270f Play along with our predictions game at https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ Follow Ciara and Simone's Formula 1 predictions and content at Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

Ep72: The brutal truth about Formula 1, with Stewart Bell

Stewart Bell has been covering Formula 1 from the inside for more than 20 years. He's had a front-row seat for some of the sport's biggest moments, from being the only media in the garage for Daniel Ricciardo's first Albert Park run, to interviewing Ayrton Senna's press officer about the day he died at Imola. Now he's turned two decades of paddock access into a book, published by Penguin. In this episode, Stewart joins Dianne Bortoletto to talk about his career, the drivers he's worked with, and what Formula 1 looks like from the inside when the cameras aren't rolling. They cover: How Stewart pitched his way into F1 journalism with no contacts and no racing background Working with Daniel Ricciardo through his Red Bull years, the McLaren nightmare, and his return Interviewing Kimi Raikkonen, and the GQ India story that sums up why Kimi is every journalist's nightmare The chilling behind-the-scenes account of the day Senna died, told by his press officer The 2025 regulations, battery management in qualifying, and what needs to change Lance Stroll, Leighton Hewitt, and the tennis hit that revealed a different side of a misunderstood driver Lewis Hamilton's chances of an eighth title at Ferrari Stewart's new book, Formula 1: The World's Most Brutal Sport, published by Penguin Get the book here: https://amzn.to/4nAWaNj Stewart on Instagram: http://instagram.com/StewartBellF1 Stewart's website: http://www.stewart-bell.com Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

Ep71: How to use points to fly, stay, and get into Formula 1 hospitality for (almost) free

What if your frequent flyer points could get you driven through the gates at Albert Park, into the McLaren suite, and down to the team garage after qualifying? In this episode, Dianne Bortoletto sits down with Chris Chamberlin, freelance travel journalist and frequent flyer points expert, whose work appears in the Australian Financial Review, Business Traveller and Traveller. Chris breaks down how he pieced together an entire Middle East trip across five different frequent flyer programs, why he flew Emirates first class for the same number of Qantas points as a domestic reclining seat, and how a bottle of Dom Perignon P2 ended up in a paper coffee cup before landing. The conversation gets into the nuts and bolts of how to actually build a points balance without changing how you spend, how hotel loyalty programs and airline partnerships stack on top of each other, and why Singapore Airlines is worth paying attention to if you are serious about reward seats. Then it gets interesting for Formula 1 fans. Chris was hosted by Hilton at the Melbourne Grand Prix to experience what is possible when you bid your Hilton Honours points for an F1 hospitality package. He describes being driven through the Albert Park security fence while the crowd held their cameras up, wandering into the McLaren garage after qualifying, and watching the car being dismantled with FIA scrutineers standing by. The same experience went to auction for 660,000 Hilton Honours points, which Chris breaks down into a cost comparison that makes it look surprisingly competitive against a cash Paddock Club ticket. This one is worth a pen and paper. Find Chris Chamberlin https://www.instagram.com/chris_chamberlin/ https://www.instagram.com/chris_chamberlin/ Subscribe to my Away We Go Substack for Formula 1 destination travel stories: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Play Along: Predict the Podium: https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ Website https://awaywegopodcast.com Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Substack https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Threads https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

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Ep70: Miami F1, Kimi’s pole and win hat trick making history and Ferrari send Ciara into depression

After a five-week break, Formula 1 returned with an action-packed sprint weekend in Miami, and it delivered chaos on lap one, big performances up and down the grid, and plenty to unpack (including another round of Ferrari frustration). Host Dianne Bortoletto is joined by Ciara Gillan from Formula Live Pulse to break down the Miami Grand Prix feature race and sprint, key moments, strategy calls, penalties, and what it all means heading into the next round. In this episode Miami GP recap: the layout, the challenges, and why this sprint weekend felt especially hectic Feature race results and the standout drives of the weekend Max Verstappen’s lap-one spin and the recovery charge through the field Kimi Antonelli’s performance, stamina, and what this win could mean for the championship picture McLaren’s weekend: pace, strategy, and how the two drivers were managed Ferrari’s upgrades: what changed, what didn’t, and why it still feels like a familiar story Stewarding and penalties: what happened, what felt inconsistent, and why delays matter Notable incidents: Isack Hadjar’s crash and reaction, plus the Gasly/Lawson incident Williams’ double points: a much-needed boost Sprint race recap and what we learned from the shorter format Prediction game chat: who nailed it, who forgot, and who’s leading the leaderboard Miami delivered one of the season's most dramatic races, from Max Verstappen's full 360 spin on lap one to a last-lap disaster for Charles Leclerc that had the stewards busy well into the night. Kimi Antonelli became the first driver in Formula 1 history to score his first three pole positions and convert them into three consecutive race wins, and Dianne Bortoletto and Ciara Gillan from Formula Live Pulse break it all down, including how Kimi climbed out of the car with shaking legs after holding off Lando Norris for the final 20 laps, and what Toto Wolff called his best win yet. They cover the full feature race and sprint results, Verstappen's remarkable recovery drive after the spin, Ferrari's much-hyped 11 upgrades that went largely unseen, the controversial 20-second penalty handed to Leclerc on the final lap, and the ongoing question of whether the FIA can deliver timely stewarding decisions in a sport where cameras are everywhere. Also discussed: McLaren's single-strategy approach and what it means for Oscar Piastri's title hopes, Alpine's quietly brilliant season, the Isack Hadjar retirement meltdown that no one could look away from, the Gasly-Lawson incident that could have been far more serious, and the Franco Colapinto fan base situation that Di has thoughts on. Plus, Di shines a light on Melbourne singer-songwriter Magdalia, who wrote a Formula 1-inspired song and has Di's full endorsement. Check her out at https://www.officialmagdalia.com/ Creator of the Week: Magdalia This week’s spotlight goes to Melbourne singer-songwriter Magdalia, who released a Formula 1-inspired song and is part of the growing wave of creators bringing F1 into new creative spaces. Listen here: https://www.officialmagdalia.com/ About Formula Live Pulse Formula Live Pulse is the ultimate second-screen experience for F1 fans. Try it free for 7 days — no credit card needed. Website: https://f1livepulse.com App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/formula-live-pulse/id6739639442 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.f1livepulse&pcampaignid=web_share Follow Away We Go Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Email: hello@awaywegopodcast.com Play along with the Away We Go Predict the Podium game at https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ Listen on your favourite podcast platform Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast Subscribe, rate and review If you enjoyed this episode, please follow/subscribe and leave a rating or review — it’s one of the simplest ways to support the show and helps new listeners find us.

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Ep69: Miami GP sprint preview, Ferrari rumours, and what’s new in F1

After a five-week break, Formula 1 is back and Miami is a sprint weekend. In Ep69 of Away We Go Podcast, Di is joined by Ciara Gillan (Formula Live Pulse) to unpack what’s changed off-track, what matters heading into the Miami Grand Prix, and the biggest rumours swirling through the paddock. This episode covers Ferrari’s latest speculation, Red Bull’s long-lead departure news, and why super-clipping, lift-and-coast and battery management are becoming the new battleground in 2026. In this episode Miami Grand Prix preview: sprint weekend, longer practice session, and why upgrades matter now Formula Live Pulse app updates: super-clipping analysis and lift-and-coast telemetry WEC at Imola: what it’s like trackside and why the crowd is booming Ferrari rumours: the latest chatter and what it could mean for the team Red Bull news: why long notice periods and “garden leave” can reshape the grid Calendar talk: the Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi scheduling rumour, and what it means for logistics F1 Academy progress: why Doriane Pin driving the Mercedes F1 car matters The reality check: cost barriers in junior motorsport and why pathways still need work Key names mentioned Di (Away We Go Podcast) Ciara Gillan (Formula Live Pulse) Doriane Pin (F1 Academy) Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes Miami Grand Prix, Imola, WEC (World Endurance Championship) Links mentioned Away We Go Podcast prediction tracker: https://awaywegopodcast.com (see “Predict the Podium” / predictions) Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com Connect with Away We Go Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Email: hello@awaywegopodcast.com Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Formula Live Pulse Formula Live Pulse is the ultimate second-screen experience for F1 fans. Try it free for 7 days (no credit card needed): https://f1livepulse.com App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/formula-live-pulse/id6739639442 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.f1livepulse&pcampaignid=web_share

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Ep68 Rachel Brookes Sky Sports F1 broadcaster and author

Sky Sports F1 broadcaster and author Rachel Brookes joins Away We Go Podcast for a wide-ranging chat that moves from the chaos (and thrill) of live TV to what it really takes to build a career in elite sports broadcasting. Rachel shares unforgettable paddock moments (including an early run-in with Bernie Ecclestone), how Drive to Survive and Liberty Media changed Formula 1’s reach, and why she wrote F1 Racing Drive for new and long-time fans alike. We also talk travel: jet lag, race-weekend reality versus the glamorous perception, and the routines that keep Rachel going through a relentless calendar. Key topics Rachel’s early broadcasting career (TalkSport, cricket, and making the leap to Sky) Her first Formula 1 paddock day — and the Bernie Ecclestone moment she thought might end it How to interview drivers under pressure (and why empathy matters trackside) What Liberty Media and Drive to Survive changed for F1 (and what access has been lost) Why Rachel wrote F1 Racing Drive — and the surprising research she uncovered while writing it Travel realities: jet lag, sleep debt, food on planes, and the hotel–track hamster wheel The “Final Three” rapid-fire questions (including favourite race destinations) Moments you’ll hear Why chaos can be the best part of live broadcasting The 11-minute live segment in India with champagne poured down Rachel’s back The story behind Michael Schumacher’s “mind games” (via Nico Rosberg) What makes Max Verstappen’s technique so hard to replicate The Presidential Protocol she learnt only after it was too late Links Pre-order F1 Racing Drive by Rachel Brookes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48WkeUx Follow Rachel Brookes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrookes X: https://x.com/RachelBrookesTV TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelbrookestv Connect with Away We Go Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com Email: hello@awaywegopodcast.com Disclosure: This page contains an affiliate link to Amazon. I may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Keywords Formula 1, F1, Sky Sports F1, Rachel Brookes, F1 broadcaster, F1 journalist, Drive to Survive, Liberty Media, Bernie Ecclestone, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher, F1 book, F1 Racing Drive, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah, motorsport media, travel and sport podcast

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Ep67: Fashion, Culture and the Untold Stories of Formula 1, with Esme Buxton of The Paddock Journal

What do you do when you photograph one of Formula 1's most compelling personalities, pitch the story to every major magazine, and get knocked back by all of them? If you're Esme Buxton, you build your own magazine. Esme is a fashion photographer and the founder and editor of The Paddock Journal, a Formula 1 fashion and lifestyle publication that launched just over a year ago and has already become one of the most distinctive new voices in the sport. Based in Cheltenham, England, she joins Di this week to talk about how a single photoshoot with F1 TV presenter Laura Winter became the catalyst for something she never quite planned, but couldn't stop once it started. In this episode they get into what it actually took to produce a print magazine in just over two months, with a team of three people and no publishing experience between them. The debut issue featured Cadillac F1's chief brand advisor Cassidy Towriss on the cover, shot on location in Miami, wearing her own wardrobe of couture Dior, including a piece lent to Jennifer Lawrence for the Oscars. Esme talks about what it was like to spend time with Cassidy, why her story deserved to be front and centre, and what the experience of building the magazine from the ground up actually looked like behind the scenes. They also talk about the moment Susie Wolff told Esme she knew and loved The Paddock Journal, the editorial philosophy behind a publication that deliberately seeks out the voices in Formula 1 that rarely get heard, and why Esme believes the sport's fashion and culture scene has been dramatically underserved by media for years. And if you're someone who has ever wondered how to break into Formula 1, Esme has a clear and genuinely encouraging answer for you in this one. Plus, The Paddock Journal Atelier: a fashion showroom and styling experience launching at Monaco and Silverstone this season in partnership with the Pop-Up Hotel, where fans can shop motorsport fashion brands, work with a stylist, and attend events including a gala at Silverstone. This interview was the inspiration behind Away We Go's own Substack https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com. The Paddock Journal / https://thepaddockjournal.com The Paddock Journal on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/thepaddockjournal You’ll find more photos and videos on the Away We Go Podcast social media channels: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads | and also on Substack Or drop us a line at hello@awaywegopodcast.com Your support means the world to us - please rate and review our show on your favourite podcast listening app, we might even read out your review next episode Formula Live Pulse App: Formula Live Pulse is the ultimate second-screen experience for F1 fans. Try it for free for 7 days - no credit card needed f1livepulse.com App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/formula-live-pulse/id6739639442 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.f1livepulse&pcampaignid=web_share. #Formula1 #F1 #F1podcast #Formula1podcast #FormulaOne #bestf1podcast #australianF1podcast #femalef1podcast #femaleF1podcasthosts #f1travel #travelwriter #f1creator #f1writer Are you planning to go to The Australian or Japanese Grands Prix? Everything you need to know in my Grand Prix Travel Guides here Guides include insider tips at the track, best places to eat, a list of great day trip suggestions and reasons to stay longer - download it here (free).

EP66: Visiting Japan for the Japanese Grand Prix: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore with Tess Moone

Japan Grand Prix trip planning starts here, this is a Suzuka special for those thinking of going to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. In this episode, Di chats with Japan travel expert Tess Moone from Tessomewhere.com to help you plan a proper Japan trip, not just fly in, see the race, and fly out. We cover where to base yourself (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, or Nagoya), how to get around Japan using IC cards like Suica, how the Shinkansen works, what to eat and day trips and lesser-known spots like the Nakasendō trail hike in the Kiso Valley (Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku). Tess also shares practical etiquette and travel tips: why you shouldn’t eat while walking, why you’ll rarely see street bins, how to handle queues, cash vs card, and Japan’s incredibly convenient luggage forwarding service. Download the Japanese Grand Prix Travel Guide from Away We Go Podcast https://awaywegopodcast.com/travel/ Guest Tess Moone (Tessomewhere.com) Japan guides: https://tessomewhere.com/category/japan/ Instagram: @tessomewhere https://www.instagram.com/tessomewhere/ Connect with Away We Go Podcast Travel Writing on Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast Instagram: @awaywegopodcast https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ YouTube: @AwayWeGoPodcast https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast TikTok: @awaywego.podcast https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast Website: http://awaywegopodcast.com Email: hello@awaywegopodcast.com We cover: Where to base yourself for Suzuka: Nagoya, Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka How to use public transport + IC cards (Suica) Shinkansen (bullet train) tips Must-try food: ramen, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, hitsumabushi (Nagoya grilled eel) Osaka highlights: Dōtonbori, Umeda Sky Building (Floating Garden Observatory / Kuchu Teien Observatory), Universal Studios Japan Kyoto highlights: Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Fushimi Inari Taisha Off-the-beaten-track ideas like the Nakasendō hike in the Kiso Valley (Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku) Etiquette tips (queues, trash, eating while walking) Luggage forwarding in Japan (game-changer)