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The Austrian Grand Prix delivered plenty of talking points for me and Di to rant about – even if the race itself wasn't the thriller us Formula 1 fans were hoping for.
In Episode 78 of the Away We Go Podcast, we break down George Russell's impressive victory for Mercedes, Ferrari's frustrating weekend despite arriving with major upgrades, Max Verstappen's strong recovery drive, and why the television coverage had most of us fans reaching for the motion sickness tablets. I still feel seasick from it!
If you missed the latest episode, here's a look at some of the biggest discussions from our Austrian Grand Prix review.
One of the biggest talking points from qualifying was George Russell's remarkable pole position lap.
After Max Verstappen's incident triggered yellow flags late in qualifying, Russell kept his composure, judged the situation perfectly, and produced what proved to be the fastest lap of the session.
During the podcast, we discuss how Russell's experience made the difference. While rookie Kimi Antonelli appeared uncertain about the evolving flag situation, Russell instinctively knew exactly how much to lift before attacking the remainder of the lap.
That calmness carried into Sunday's race, where Russell controlled proceedings to secure an important victory that could prove significant in this year's championship battle.
Ferrari arrived in Austria with high expectations after introducing significant upgrades to the SF-26.
Qualifying looked incredibly promising, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton appearing capable of locking out the front row before Russell's last-gasp pole lap.
Unfortunately, race day told a very different story.
Although Ferrari tried an aggressive three-stop strategy, excessive tyre degradation meant they simply couldn't match the pace of Mercedes or Red Bull over a race distance.
Lewis Hamilton enjoyed some fantastic wheel-to-wheel battles with Max Verstappen, but ultimately the Ferrari lacked the pace to fight for the podium.
For Ferrari fans, it was another frustrating reminder that qualifying speed doesn't always translate into race performance.
Despite a scrappy opening lap that saw him run wide several times, Kimi Antonelli once again showed why many believe he is the future of Formula 1.
As we discuss in the episode, many of his mistakes appeared to come from youthful aggression rather than poor judgement. Once he settled into the race, his speed was exceptional.
By the closing laps Antonelli was rapidly catching Verstappen and may well have challenged for second place had the race been just a few laps longer.
The young Mercedes driver continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency and remains firmly in championship contention.
After several difficult weekends, Austria offered some encouragement for Red Bull Racing.
At the team's home circuit, Verstappen extracted everything from the RB22 to finish second behind Russell.
With ongoing speculation surrounding Verstappen's long-term future, performances like this suggest Red Bull remain capable of fighting near the front when everything comes together.
While Ferrari struggled to convert upgrades into results, Red Bull left Spielberg with renewed optimism.
One of the more unexpected talking points from the Austrian Grand Prix wasn't the racing – it was the television direction.
Throughout the race, experimental drone shots left many viewers feeling seasick.
The aggressive camera movements often made it difficult to follow the on-track action, while several key overtakes were missed entirely because of poorly timed cutaway shots.
It quickly became one of the biggest discussion points among fans online, and we couldn't resist sharing our own frustrations during the podcast.
Sometimes the best camera angle is simply the traditional one.
Austria was another difficult weekend for several teams further down the field.
Cadillac suffered a double retirement after both cars experienced similar brake-related issues within just a few laps of each other.
Williams also endured another disappointing race, continuing a season that has fallen well short of the expectations generated over the winter.
With Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon struggling to score consistent points, questions are beginning to grow about how quickly Williams can recover.
Away from the racing, one of the biggest off-track stories involved FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
New governance changes mean the FIA presidency no longer has fixed term limits, prompting criticism from across the motorsport community.
In this week's episode we discuss what these changes could mean for Formula 1's future, why governance matters for the sport, and whether stronger checks and balances are needed at the top of international motorsport.
With Austria complete, attention now turns immediately to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Lewis Hamilton has an incredible record at his home circuit, and cooler conditions could play into Ferrari's hands far more than the scorching temperatures seen in Austria.
George Russell arrives with fresh momentum after his victory, while Mercedes will be hoping they have finally found a package capable of consistently challenging for wins.
Could Silverstone produce another surprise?
In this week's episode, we discuss:
George Russell's Austrian Grand Prix victory Ferrari's disappointing race despite major upgrades Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen Kimi Antonelli's impressive recovery drive The FIA governance controversy The unusual TV coverage from Spielberg Early predictions for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone
If you're looking for in-depth Formula 1 discussion with plenty of honest opinions, race analysis and a few laughs along the way, be sure to watch Episode 78 of the Away We Go Podcast on YouTube.
Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss our weekly Formula 1 race reviews and previews throughout the 2026 season.
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!