Away We Go Podcast

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 Stewart on Instagram: http://instagram.com/StewartBellF1 Stewart's website: http://www.stewart-bell.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

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/

Subscribe to my Away We Go Substack for Formula 1 destination travel stories: https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com

Play Along: Predict the Podium: https://awaywegopodcast.com/play-along/

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

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/

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/

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.

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After a five-week break, Formula 1 is back and Miami is a sprint weekend.

In Ep69 of Away We Go Podcast, Di is joined by Ciara Gillan (Formula Live Pulse) to unpack what’s changed off-track, what matters heading into the Miami Grand Prix, and the biggest rumours swirling through the paddock.

This episode covers Ferrari’s latest speculation, Red Bull’s long-lead departure news, and why super-clipping, lift-and-coast and battery management are becoming the new battleground in 2026.

• Miami Grand Prix preview: sprint weekend, longer practice session, and why upgrades matter now
• Formula Live Pulse app updates: super-clipping analysis and lift-and-coast telemetry
• WEC at Imola: what it’s like trackside and why the crowd is booming
• Ferrari rumours: the latest chatter and what it could mean for the team
• Red Bull news: why long notice periods and “garden leave” can reshape the grid
• Calendar talk: the Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi scheduling rumour, and what it means for logistics
• F1 Academy progress: why Doriane Pin driving the Mercedes F1 car matters
• The reality check: cost barriers in junior motorsport and why pathways still need work

• Di (Away We Go Podcast)
• Ciara Gillan (Formula Live Pulse)
• Doriane Pin (F1 Academy)
• Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes
• Miami Grand Prix, Imola, WEC (World Endurance Championship)

• Away We Go Podcast prediction tracker: https://awaywegopodcast.com (see “Predict the Podium” / predictions)
• Formula Live Pulse: https://f1livepulse.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwayWeGoPodcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awaywego.podcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/away-we-go-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaywegopodcast/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@awaywegopodcast

Website: https://awaywegopodcast.com

Email: [email protected]

Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast

Formula Live Pulse is the ultimate second-screen experience for F1 fans. Try it free for 7 days (no credit card needed): https://f1livepulse.com

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/formula-live-pulse/id6739639442

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Sky Sports F1 broadcaster and author Rachel Brookes joins Away We Go Podcast for a wide-ranging chat that moves from the chaos (and thrill) of live TV to what it really takes to build a career in elite sports broadcasting. Rachel shares unforgettable paddock moments (including an early run-in with Bernie Ecclestone), how Drive to Survive and Liberty Media changed Formula 1’s reach, and why she wrote F1 Racing Drive for new and long-time fans alike.

We also talk travel: jet lag, race-weekend reality versus the glamorous perception, and the routines that keep Rachel going through a relentless calendar.

• Rachel’s early broadcasting career (TalkSport, cricket, and making the leap to Sky)
• Her first Formula 1 paddock day — and the Bernie Ecclestone moment she thought might end it
• How to interview drivers under pressure (and why empathy matters trackside)
• What Liberty Media and Drive to Survive changed for F1 (and what access has been lost)
• Why Rachel wrote F1 Racing Drive — and the surprising research she uncovered while writing it
• Travel realities: jet lag, sleep debt, food on planes, and the hotel–track hamster wheel
• The “Final Three” rapid-fire questions (including favourite race destinations)

• Why chaos can be the best part of live broadcasting
• The 11-minute live segment in India with champagne poured down Rachel’s back
• The story behind Michael Schumacher’s “mind games” (via Nico Rosberg)
• What makes Max Verstappen’s technique so hard to replicate
• The Presidential Protocol she learnt only after it was too late

Pre-order F1 Racing Drive by Rachel Brookes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48WkeUx

Follow Rachel Brookes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrookes

X: https://x.com/RachelBrookesTV

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/

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Email: [email protected]

Disclosure: This page contains an affiliate link to Amazon. I may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

Formula 1, F1, Sky Sports F1, Rachel Brookes, F1 broadcaster, F1 journalist, Drive to Survive, Liberty Media, Bernie Ecclestone, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher, F1 book, F1 Racing Drive, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah, motorsport media, travel and sport podcast

What do you do when you photograph one of Formula 1's most compelling personalities, pitch the story to every major magazine, and get knocked back by all of them? If you're Esme Buxton, you build your own magazine.

Esme is a fashion photographer and the founder and editor of The Paddock Journal, a Formula 1 fashion and lifestyle publication that launched just over a year ago and has already become one of the most distinctive new voices in the sport. Based in Cheltenham, England, she joins Di this week to talk about how a single photoshoot with F1 TV presenter Laura Winter became the catalyst for something she never quite planned, but couldn't stop once it started.

In this episode they get into what it actually took to produce a print magazine in just over two months, with a team of three people and no publishing experience between them.

The debut issue featured Cadillac F1's chief brand advisor Cassidy Towriss on the cover, shot on location in Miami, wearing her own wardrobe of couture Dior, including a piece lent to Jennifer Lawrence for the Oscars. Esme talks about what it was like to spend time with Cassidy, why her story deserved to be front and centre, and what the experience of building the magazine from the ground up actually looked like behind the scenes.

They also talk about the moment Susie Wolff told Esme she knew and loved The Paddock Journal, the editorial philosophy behind a publication that deliberately seeks out the voices in Formula 1 that rarely get heard, and why Esme believes the sport's fashion and culture scene has been dramatically underserved by media for years.

And if you're someone who has ever wondered how to break into Formula 1, Esme has a clear and genuinely encouraging answer for you in this one.

Plus, The Paddock Journal Atelier: a fashion showroom and styling experience launching at Monaco and Silverstone this season in partnership with the Pop-Up Hotel, where fans can shop motorsport fashion brands, work with a stylist, and attend events including a gala at Silverstone.

This interview was the inspiration behind Away We Go's own Substack https://awaywegopodcast.substack.com.

The Paddock Journal / https://thepaddockjournal.com The Paddock Journal on Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/thepaddockjournal

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 [email protected]

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

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

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#Formula1 #F1 #F1podcast #Formula1podcast #FormulaOne #bestf1podcast #australianF1podcast #femalef1podcast #femaleF1podcasthosts #f1travel #travelwriter #f1creator #f1writer

Are you planning to go to The Australian or Japanese Grands Prix? Everything you need to know in my Grand Prix Travel Guides here

Guides include insider tips at the track, best places to eat, a list of great day trip suggestions and reasons to stay longer - download it here (free).

Japan Grand Prix trip planning starts here, this is a Suzuka special for those thinking of going to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.

In this episode, Di chats with Japan travel expert Tess Moone from Tessomewhere.com to help you plan a proper Japan trip, not just fly in, see the race, and fly out.

We cover where to base yourself (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, or Nagoya), how to get around Japan using IC cards like Suica, how the Shinkansen works, what to eat and day trips and lesser-known spots like the Nakasendō trail hike in the Kiso Valley (Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku).

Tess also shares practical etiquette and travel tips: why you shouldn’t eat while walking, why you’ll rarely see street bins, how to handle queues, cash vs card, and Japan’s incredibly convenient luggage forwarding service.

Download the Japanese Grand Prix Travel Guide from Away We Go Podcast https://awaywegopodcast.com/travel/

Guest

Tess Moone (Tessomewhere.com)

Japan guides: https://tessomewhere.com/category/japan/

Instagram: @tessomewhere https://www.instagram.com/tessomewhere/

Connect with Away We Go Podcast

Travel Writing on Substack: https://substack.com/@awaywegopodcast

Instagram: @awaywegopodcast https://www.instagram.com/awaywegopodcast/

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Email: [email protected]

We cover:

• Where to base yourself for Suzuka: Nagoya, Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka
• How to use public transport + IC cards (Suica)
• Shinkansen (bullet train) tips
• Must-try food: ramen, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, hitsumabushi (Nagoya grilled eel)
• Osaka highlights: Dōtonbori, Umeda Sky Building (Floating Garden Observatory / Kuchu Teien Observatory), Universal Studios Japan
• Kyoto highlights: Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Fushimi Inari Taisha
• Off-the-beaten-track ideas like the Nakasendō hike in the Kiso Valley (Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku)
• Etiquette tips (queues, trash, eating while walking)
• Luggage forwarding in Japan (game-changer)

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 [email protected]

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

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

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#Formula1 #F1 #F1podcast #Formula1podcast #FormulaOne #bestf1podcast #australianF1podcast #femalef1podcast #femaleF1podcasthosts #f1travel #travelwriter #f1creator #f1writer

F1 journalist Reilly Sullivan left Sydney, moved to Beijing, and came straight out of the Shanghai paddock to talk to us. This episode is part race review, part travel guide, and part honest conversation about what it is actually like to pack up your life and move to China.

Reilly covers his first Chinese Grand Prix from inside the media centre, one of the most impressive press facilities on the calendar, purpose-built when China joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2004, and talks through what race-by-race media accreditation looks like for a freelance journalist working their way into the paddock.

On the race itself: Kimi Antonelli winning in his second ever grand prix, the sprint weekend delivering genuine excitement, and why Reilly thinks Antonelli could go all the way for the championship this year. He also caught a quick word with Nico Hulkenberg about the April race break, and Hulkenberg's response was one of the most measured things said by anyone in the paddock all weekend.

On China: Beijing versus Shanghai, the realities of moving somewhere genuinely unfamiliar, learning Mandarin from scratch, and why the Chinese Grand Prix should be on your Formula 1 travel list.

We also get into the 2026 regulations, active aerodynamics, Boost Mode, Lift and Coast, and whether the new era is actually delivering the racing it promised.

To read Reilly's latest story where he interviews Zhou Guanyu, click here. You can connect with Reilly Sullivan on Instagram @reillyjosephsullivan.

Away We Go Podcast is hosted by Dianne Bortoletto. New episodes every week covering Formula 1, travel and lifestyle.

#F1 #Formula1 #ChineseGrandPrix #Shanghai #KimiAntonelli #F1Travel #China #F12026 #F1Podcast #AwayWeGoPodcast

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 [email protected]

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27OlsSvFu8M

Shanghai delivered one for the history books. Di and Ciara break down the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, a race that had it all, DNSs, DNFs, a teenage winner, Ferrari back on the podium, and both McLarens failing to even start.

Italian driver for Mercedes Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest ever F1 pole sitter and converts it to his maiden race win in only the second race of the year, and the second season of his career. Di gets emotional. Very emotional.

After Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton battle all the way in one of the most entertaining Ferrari vs Ferrari battles in years, it was Lewis Hamilton who took the third step on the podium, his first wearing red. This brings his total to 203 podium finishes during his 20-year career, and his 10th top-three finish in Shanghai.

With George Russell finishing second in his Mercedes, and Kimi’s race engineer Bono (Hamilton’s long-standing race engineer when he was at Mercedes) representing the constructor, it was a very special podium. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who still claims Lewis as ‘his driver’ even though Lewis is driving for Ferrari, was clearly very moved. We, too, were feeling all the feels.

It was a Mercedes front row lock out on the grid for the sprint. Kimi Antonelli had a horrible start and finished in 5th. George Russell took the Sprint win with Ferrari locking out second (Charles Leclerc) and third (Lewis Hamilton).

Both Piastri and Norris DNS from the main race with separate power unit issues. Two races in, Oscar Piastri hasn't completed a single feature race lap. Piasti finished the sprint in 6th, Norris in 4th.

Max Verstappen fights back from P13 to P6 before a mechanical failure ends his race early. Red Bull are struggling but Di and Ciara aren't writing them off.

Mercedes reportedly in talks to buy a 24% stake in Alpine - could it become a junior team? And what does that mean for Flavio Briatore?

No racing in April, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are off the calendar, leaving a five-week gap after Japan.

The Away We Go prediction tracker leaderboard update see Di top the leaderboard with her secret second account. Di is also (smugly) ahead of Ciara, in the Away We Go Predict the Podium, as well as in the Formula Live Pulse Predictions, where neither of them are doing particularly well.

It’s Carolyn's Corner on Instagram — making the case for F1 merch to be actually designed for women. Her content is fun and funny, check her out @itscarolinescorner

A special guest joins to chat more about Shanghai, plus a Japanese travel episode is on its way.

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 [email protected]

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

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.

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