Mexico City Grand Prix · Podcast
Away We Go Ep93: Austin bumps spark F1 safety debate
Dianne Bortoletto and Formula Live Pulse’s Ciara Gillan discuss COTA’s bumps, Ferrari’s missed chances and McLaren’s strategy in Away We Go Episode 93.
Ep93: F1 Austin GP: So bumpy Max lifts off his seat
Max Verstappen reportedly lifts himself off his seat at two corners of the F1 Austin Grand Prix circuit because the bumps are that bad.
About this video
Max Verstappen reportedly lifts himself off his seat at two corners of the F1 Austin Grand Prix circuit because the bumps are that bad.
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole at the Circuit of the Americas. He now needs only ninth in Mexico to become the youngest Formula 1 world champion, by three years. Behind him, nine points separate George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Max and Charles Leclerc.
Dianne Bortoletto and Ciara Gillan of Formula Live Pulse unpack the late VSC that cost Ferrari, McLaren's team orders and Isack Hadjar's radio frustration. The halo and the refuelling ban made drivers safer, so why is a circuit surface still allowed to hurt them?
Plus Alisha Palmowski's F1 Academy title, Liam Lawson's guitar gig in Austin and Christian Horner's soft 60 Minutes interview.
In this episode:
- Kimi Antonelli wins from pole and needs ninth in Mexico for the title
- Ferrari top every practice session, then qualify fourth and fifth
- The late VSC that robbed Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
- Lando Norris gambles on old tyres and Ciara backs the call
- COTA's bumps, 9G vertical loads and the case for safer surfaces
- Isack Hadjar's radio clashes and Red Bull's hard tyre test
- McLaren team orders and pit calls Di and Ciara can't explain
- Nine points split four drivers fighting for second
- Alisha Palmowski's F1 Academy title and Joanne Ciconte chasing Kyojo Cup history
- Liam Lawson's Austin gig, Brundle's grid walk and Horner on 60 Minutes
Hosted by Dianne Bortoletto, Instagram @travelletto.
With Ciara Gillan of Formula Live Pulse, Instagram @ciaragillan16.
Formula Live Pulse: https://www.f1livepulse.com/en/ get 10% off with code AWAYWEGO
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 stop, Mexico City.
COTA’s bumpy surface and the physical toll on drivers lead the discussion in Episode 93 of Away We Go, with host Dianne Bortoletto joined by Formula Live Pulse’s Ciara Gillan to unpack the United States Grand Prix.
The episode, titled “F1 Austin GP: So bumpy that Max lifts off his seat”, combines concern over track conditions with debate about Ferrari’s opportunities and McLaren’s strategy.
Should circuit surfaces face greater scrutiny?
Dianne discusses reports that Max Verstappen lifts himself out of his seat through Turns 1 and 19 to cope with the bumps. Both speakers argue that circuit conditions deserve attention alongside the sport’s other safety measures.
“I think track surface also has to be part of it,” Dianne says.
Their discussion asks how much discomfort drivers should be expected to tolerate, even in a sport that places exceptional physical demands on them.
Ferrari’s chances and McLaren’s difficult calls
The conversation also covers Kimi Antonelli’s Austin victory, with Ciara particularly impressed by his tyre management.
Ferrari prompts a livelier debate. Both praise Charles Leclerc’s performance, but differ over whether he could realistically have challenged Antonelli. Ciara argues that the late virtual safety car particularly hurt Lewis Hamilton’s pursuit of Verstappen.
McLaren’s decisions receive similar scrutiny, from the instruction to swap Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to the traffic Piastri encountered after his stop. Ciara nevertheless backs the decision to keep Norris out once his strategy had reached its closing stages.
Away from the strategy debate, the episode includes Liam Lawson’s Austin guitar performance and Martin Brundle’s grid walk.