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Get ready, race fans, because the 2026 Formula 1 season is revving up, and the Away We Go Podcast has just dropped a must-listen primer in Episode 60. With Monique stepping away to focus on motherhood, host Dianne Bortoletto is bringing in a heavy hitter to co-host the race recaps this season: Ciara Gillan.
Ciara isn't just a passionate fan; she's the co-founder of the ultimate second-screen experience, the Formula Live Pulse app. Her deep dive into the sport began when she started watching races with her Italian partner, Simone Scanu. Her relentless, inquisitive questioning during grand prix weekends made them both realize there was a massive gap in the market for fans wanting deeper race data and context.
That raw curiosity birthed the app, which now delivers live telemetry, complete team radio transcripts, tire and pit strategies, and a dedicated community chat. Just in time for lights out in Australia, the app's massive new update also includes full coverage of F2, F3, and the F1 Academy, alongside a brand-new fantasy league.
If you're wondering which garage Ciara supports, she bleeds Ferrari red. Thanks to her partner, she's an adopted member of the Tifosi, fully embracing the complex, love-hate relationship and the inevitable "Ferrari anxiety" that comes with backing the Scuderia.
When evaluating the drivers, Ciara looks beyond pure pace. She admires McLaren's Oscar Piastri for his unique blend of on-track ambition and off-track humility, praising his incredibly calm and composed demeanor. She also has immense respect for Charles Leclerc's self-critical honesty.
However, her ultimate driver pick is Carlos Sainz. Ciara is captivated by the Spaniard's strategic "racing brain," appreciating his ability to stay calm and read the bigger picture of a race rather than just shouting on the team radio when things go wrong. Because she loves a good underdog story, she also admits to holding a soft spot for the Williams team.
When she's not analyzing race strategy or managing global tech updates, Ciara is an accomplished filmmaker and producer based out of Berlin. She runs her own production company and recently hit a massive creative milestone: her short film The Head On Him, a magical story about a young Nigerian boy in 1990s Ireland, is currently streaming on Disney+. A true creative, she also has aspirations to pen her own crime fiction novel when she can find the time.
To close out the interview, Ciara tackled the podcast's signature final three questions. Despite its questionable track layout and fake marina, she chose the Miami Grand Prix as the race she most wants to attend, drawn in by the undeniable energy and spectacle of the event.
For a non-F1 holiday, Japan tops her bucket list for a full immersion into its incredible culture, language, and food. And the driver she'd most like to take a trip with? Lewis Hamilton. Ciara views the seven-time world champion as an elegant, layered, and deeply interesting person whose brain she would love to pick. She even weighed in on the paddock rumors of Hamilton dating Kim Kardashian, noting her profound respect for Kardashian's undeniable business acumen and suggesting Hamilton would respect a woman who has worked hard to build her own successful empire.
Make sure to stream Episode 60 to get to know the analytical and opinionated voice that will be guiding you through the 2026 race recaps.
While you're at it, download the Formula Live Pulse app to upgrade your race day setup, get your podium predictions in on the new website tracker, and grab Di's free 24-page travel guide to the Melbourne Grand Prix from awaywegopodcast.com.
It's lights out and away we go!
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producer’s brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastri’s rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!
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