Away We Go Podcast

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/ [https://www.instagram.com/emselleck/] Predict the Podium (Play Along): https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ [https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/] Connect with Away We Go Podcast Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com [https://awaywegopodcast.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast] Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com [https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast [https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast [https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast] Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com [https://f1livepulse.com]

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 [https://amzn.to/4nAWaNj] Stewart on Instagram: http://instagram.com/StewartBellF1 [http://instagram.com/StewartBellF1] Stewart's website: http://www.stewart-bell.com [http://www.stewart-bell.com] Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com [https://awaywegopodcast.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast] Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com [https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast [https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast [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/] 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 [https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com] Play Along: Predict the Podium: https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ [https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/] Website https://awaywegopodcast.com [https://awaywegopodcast.com] Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663] Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6] YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast] Substack https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com [https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/] TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast [https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast] Threads https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast [https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast]

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/ [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/ [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 [https://f1livepulse.com] App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/formula-live-pulse/id6739639442 [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 [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/ [https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast/ [https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast/] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast [https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast] Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com [https://awaywegopodcast.com] Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast [https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast] Email: hello@awaywegopodcast.com [hello@awaywegopodcast.com] Play along with the Away We Go Predict the Podium game at https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/ [https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/] Listen on your favourite podcast platform Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663 [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/away-we-go-podcast/id1783230663] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4zhYpuRy3mL6y44ZERI0X6] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast [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.