Kimi Antonelli won back-to-back races at Suzuka to become the youngest championship leader in Formula One history, and he did it while sipping sparkling rose water on the podium — because at 19, Japan's legal drinking age of 20 means he wasn't allowed champagne.
Oscar Piastri returned from his race absence to lead for 15 laps and finish second, and the result raised a lot of questions about what both drivers are capable of this season.
Di and Ciara break down the race from Suzuka — the 5.8-kilometre, 18-corner figure-of-eight circuit that has been part of the Formula One calendar since 1987 — covering Kimi's terrible start from pole, his recovery, and the safety car timing that proved decisive.
Ollie Bearman's 50G crash, triggered by the new regulations' sudden power clipping, is a major talking point. Carlos Sainz made the point that if the same incident had happened on a street circuit with no runoff, the outcome could have been very different — and he's calling on the FIA and Formula One management to use the five-week break to find a solution.
The episode also gets into Oscar Piastri's performance in context — he hasn't started a race this season, yet out-qualified his teammate to start third and led the Grand Prix. Di and Ciara discuss what that says about his talent versus the car beneath him, and where McLaren might go from here.
Then there's Ferrari, where Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton nearly made contact mid-race and the team dynamic — or lack of one — is becoming harder to ignore.
Other topics this week: Lewis Hamilton's deep personal connection with Japan and what shaped him as an athlete; the Japanese fan culture of swapping friendship bracelets, rewatching the race on the big screen after it ends, and taking every piece of rubbish home; Fernando Alonso is a new dad; and Jonathan Wheatley is out at Audi.
Away We Go is now on Substack — writing at the intersection of Formula One and travel. Subscribe to Away We Go on Substack: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com
The Japan travel guide is live on the website, and next week's episode features Japan expert Tess Moone from Tess Somewhere.
Creator of the week: Irish comedian Carl Mullen, who makes very funny Formula One content. Carl Mullen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVnr5YWjZ6R/
Predict the podium — play along: https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/
Japan travel guide — free download: https://awaywegopodcast.com/travel/
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
