Away We Go Podcast

Though there wasn't a race to keep us occupied this week, we managed just fine with seven episodes of F1: The Academy to get through on Netflix. Spoiler alert: we loved it. Why? You'll have to have a listen. While we're free of racing action, we also tackle the hard questions—like who we'd put in the car to replace Stroll while he's injured, and which driver on the current...

We can all thank Mercedes, a dodgy power unit, and a terrible Red Bull tyre strategy for this week's Grand Prix action. The race, held in Barcelona, was a bit of a bust until lap 55, when Kimi Antonelli's car, once again, failed him. A safety car, cheap pit stops, and a poorly chosen three-stop strategy meant there was a whole lot of action in the closing few laps. It was primarily &apos...

To spice up the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA introduced a mandatory two-pit stop rule where drivers had to use two different compound tyres. After a lot of hype and talk about this new rule, it made the race oh-so-utterly boring. Di describes it as a ‘snooze fest’. The best part? Australian Oscar Piastri on the podium getting a little bit mixed up when the trophies were being handed out. ...

Considering Imola is a race track the commentators kept telling us was 'a hard one to overtake on', this year's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was anything but boring. We lost count of the number of overtakes we saw on track. And, we couldn't possibly discuss the race without mentioning the gold-standard overtake and the two safety cars that completely changed the game. Unfortunatel...

We're only six races into the 2025 F1 season, but it feels like we've been through a whole lot more together. Just in the last week, we've seen a Doohan demotion, a team principal departure (ciao, Ollie Oakes), and one of the current drivers' dads eyeing off top spot at the FIA. Naturally, we tackle all of this and more in this week's episode of And Away We Go F1 Podcast....

We love sprint weekends! This one was full of action; we had the youngest ever F1 pole sitter, a rain-delayed sprint race, penalties and DNFs in both the sprint and the main race, and some very cool sponsor activations. The best part? Australian Oscar Piastri scored a hat-trick in winning the Miami GP, and continues his charge at the top of the F1 World Drivers Championship. It’s the first time a...

The co-author of Mark Webber’s two books, plus about 16 others, seasoned Formula 1 editorial manager and writer Stuart Gunn opens up about his 40-year career working on F1 events and writing about motorsport. From insights into the biography writing process to how he got his break working in motorsport and working with greats like Jackie Stewart, the softly spoken Scot enthrals Di and Mon with his...

It was glorious back-to-back wins for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who now leads the F1 World Drivers Championship, the first time an Australian had led the WDC since Mark Webber in 2010, Piastri’s manager. Max Verstappen put up a fight, but getting his elbows out cost him a five second penalty, and perhaps, ultimately the race. While Max was angry with the race result, third-placed Charles Leclerc was...

It was perfection from Piastri with a pole position that Monique watched from the Paddock Club. The oldest F1 track in the Middle East delivered excitement with plenty of overtaking action, penalties galore, an opportune safety car, a DNF, and a disqualification. The (mostly) two stop race had drivers on different strategies and different tyres, with some teams not learning the lessons from others...

There might not have been much excitement on the track, but there’s plenty to unpack from the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at Suzuka. It was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s first pole since Austria last year, which he converted to a win in a flawless drive, and the McLaren’s finished in second and third thanks to a risk-free race strategy. All eyes were on the drivers Yuki Tsonoda who was promoted to...

Motorsport Australia is the governing body of four-wheeled motorsport in Australia with delegated authority from the FIA, but what does it do?  We sit down with Motorsport Australia CEO Sunil Vohra who tells us how you can get involved in motorsport, the different career and volunteer pathways available to all members of the community and what it’s like to be the CEO of Motorsport Australia at the...

The 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix delivered all the action, epic results, and kept fans in suspense - and then dreams were shattered with post-race disqualifications. The Sprint Race added an exciting win for the Tifosi, and Australians are still beaming from Piastri’s first pole and his dominating conversion to the top step. Di and Mon chat about the rumours flying around, rookies who redeeme...

Well, who could have predicted that? The 2025 Formula 1 season opener was an absolute rollercoaster of a ride, with some characteristically uncharacteristic weather patterns passing over Melbourne and more DNFs than Mazepin mustered up over his *short-lived* career.  In this episode, we unpack the race that was, talk about heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, Di's fabulous last-minute Melb...

To say we’re excited for the upcoming 2025 F1 season is an understatement: we’ve said it at least 35 million times in just this episode. There’s so much to look forward to when the lights go out at Melbourne’s Albert Park this Sunday, 16th March, so we take a moment to sit down and discuss all the things we think we’re going to see over this 24-race season.  Di has her money on one of the young-gu...

Travel can make the world a better place. If you could travel to any Formula 1 race destination for a holiday, which would you choose and why?  A special episode for International Women’s Day where we ask five female travel podcaster friends to answer that question with some surprising answers. We also ask that question to Formula 1 podcasters Tiggy from Paddock Project and Sarah from BBC F1 Back...

Lights, camera, glamour. For the first time in Formula 1’s 75-year history, the season was launched in a mega glitzy showcase in a sold out show at London’s O2 Arena. A slick production, there was a lot of video, plenty of bright lights, lots of music, and some fun and some awkward banter between the host, the drivers and the commentary team. Did you also get Hunger Games vibes? Di & Mon unpac...

From bumping into Ayrton Senna on the streets of Adelaide to commentating alongside the legend Murray Walker, and the bizarre way he met the parents of an Irish F1 driver Eddie Irvine, motorsport PR, commentator and journalist Paul Marinelli tells us all. We talk about butchering surnames, commenters’ pitfalls and the addition of a new team in 2026. Paul lives the famous quote ‘Love what you do an...

Has the rise of Formula 1 seen an increase in girls jumping in karts to race? Karting Australia Chief Operating Officer Lee Hanatschek talks about girls on track, the successful and very cute grid kids program, and how young racers are more focussed on fitness, reaction times and nutrition than ever before.  There’s also a really cool opportunity for the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix as well as t...

Just about every racer starts in karts including McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and F1 rookie Jack Doohan, who will soon line up on the grid driving for Alpine F1 team. Karting Australia Chief Operating Officer Lee Hanatschek tells us about Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan. He also talks about the evolution of karting in Australia to create one of the best domestic championships in the world. The list of Ka...

Behind the lens, Sabine Albers put in 17-hour days photographing her first Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, but she wasn’t even looking at the cars. With her back to the track, Sabine was photographing the reactions of the designer-dressed crowd, most with champagne in hand, and capturing the essence of the prestigious VIP hospitality areas. The only woman in a team of nine photographers, Sabine talks abo...

From four wheels to no wheels, hear what female racer Rianna O’Meara-Hunt is racing now - it floors Di and Mon who then had to know everything about the E1 series. From her training camp in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Rianna shares stories about how she became obsessed with racing and being trackside, her first karting experience that went horribly wrong, and growing up in New Zealand and racing against...

The Beatles’ George Harrison trying to calm the karma, Dame Edna squeezing into Damon Hill's F1 car, a hot lap with Daniel Ricciardo and dealing with Ayrton Senna’s death as the team PR, Annie Bradshaw was there, and she’s still there. She’s a 50-year F1 PR and Media mavin who knows everyone and has worked for some of the sport’s greats including Williams, BMW Sauber, the A1 Grand Prix, Lance Stro...

What was Lewis Hamilton like as a 13-year-old kart racer? In this episode, veteran Formula 1 and motorsport journalist and TV presenter, Jeremy Hart, tells all.  He not only recounts the time he interviewed the budding F1 talent, but also what it was like being on the Sky Sports team in the early days, and how he worked with the sport’s supremo, Bernie Eccelstone. He also shares how his F1 career...

Have you ever wondered what F1 drivers eat? Former chef of the Mercedes F1 Team Jason Beste chats with Di and Mon about Nico Rosberg’s favourite food, the reaction to Toto Wolff approaching the buffet, and how David Beckham caused chaos in the kitchen. Listen to the insights as Jason talks about the behind-the-scenes logistical challenges of catering for drivers, mechanics, technicians, VIPs, and...

If you’re like us and missing ‘race week’, we’ve got you covered. Get your F1 fix during the off season by watching F1 themed movies, TV shows and documentaries. Di & Mon talk about the good, the not-so-good and the unmissable programs every F1 fan should have on their watch list.  What are your favourite F1 related movies, TV shows or documentaries?  Are there any ones you’ve watched and enjo...