Lights Out Lets Chat!

Michaela Wollmann
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A relaxed, unscripted podcast that begins with Formula 1 and opens the door to everything around it. Lights Out Let’s Chat is for new fans, longtime followers, and anyone who just enjoys a good conversation when the lights go out.

  1. 4d ago

    Kimi Antonelli Is F1 World Champion | 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix Recap

    Kimi Antonelli is officially the 2026 Formula 1 World Champion — and at just 20 years old, he becomes the youngest champion in F1 history. The Mexico City Grand Prix delivered everything: a championship celebration, Max Verstappen back on the top step, Lewis Hamilton on the podium, Ferrari drama, penalties, safety cars, a red flag, and five DNFs. Michaela breaks down the entire Mexico weekend, beginning with Ferrari’s strong practice pace and Lewis Hamilton taking his first Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari. George Russell lined up alongside him, Charles Leclerc was right in the fight, and Antonelli entered Sunday with one job: finish ninth or better and the championship was his. Then the lights went out — and things got complicated fast. Ferrari’s opening-lap battle put Charles Leclerc into penalty trouble, Verstappen worked his way forward from fifth, and strategy began reshaping the race. A huge crash for Valtteri Bottas eventually brought out a red flag, giving everyone another standing start and putting the championship fight under even more pressure. When the race finally settled, Verstappen held on to win the Mexico City Grand Prix, Hamilton finished less than a second behind in second, and Antonelli crossed the line third — officially securing his first Formula 1 World Championship. We also cover all five DNFs, George Russell’s penalty, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris recovering points for McLaren, and why Mexico City’s atmosphere makes this race weekend feel so different from almost anywhere else on the calendar. Michaela also takes a closer look at the connection between the Grand Prix and Día de los Muertos, and why Formula 1’s global calendar gives fans an opportunity to experience more than just racing. And for this week’s beginner-friendly question: how can Formula 1 crown a World Champion when there are still races left in the season? Michaela breaks down the championship math, remaining points, and why a title can be mathematically decided before the final race. Max won Mexico — but Kimi Antonelli made history. Follow Lights Out, Let’s Chat and come back each week as Michaela breaks down the racing, strategy, personalities, and chaos of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

  2. Oct 28

    Episode 37 Kimi Wins Austin — But the F1 Title Fight Isn’t Over | 2026 United States GP Recap

    Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole — and somehow the Formula 1 World Championship is still not over. Austin delivered a weekend full of track-limit chaos, strategy battles, Ferrari pace, Red Bull problems, McLaren frustration, and one very important championship result. Antonelli controlled the race with a one-stop strategy, took his ninth victory of the season, and extended his championship lead — but Lewis Hamilton’s fourth-place finish kept the title mathematically alive and pushed the fight on to Mexico. Michaela breaks down the entire United States Grand Prix weekend, starting with Ferrari topping all three practice sessions before Antonelli stole pole position when qualifying mattered most. Then it’s race day. Kimi manages the one-stop strategy while Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton take different approaches around him. Leclerc fights back to finish second, Verstappen takes third, Hamilton finishes fourth, and McLaren struggles through a difficult afternoon with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. We also cover George Russell’s frustrating race, every DNF from Austin, the huge number of deleted laps caused by track limits, and why Circuit of the Americas once again gave teams plenty to think about. Then F1 Academy delivers one of its biggest weekends of the season. Alisha Palmowski officially becomes the 2026 F1 Academy Drivers’ Champion, Alba Larsen earns her first victory, Nina Gademan wins the feature race, and a dramatic collision adds even more chaos after the championship has already been decided. Mike also joins the show for Mr. F1 Wisdom of the Week, looking at Red Bull’s problems, Ferrari’s internal tension, McLaren’s difficult weekend, and what makes the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix such a unique challenge. And for this week’s technical question: why can a one-stop strategy beat a two-stop strategy even when the two-stop driver has fresher tires? From Antonelli’s title chase to Ferrari’s recovery, F1 Academy history, tire strategy, track limits, and Mexico waiting next — this one has a little bit of everything. Follow Lights Out, Let’s Chat and come back each week as Michaela breaks down the racing, strategy, personalities, and chaos of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

  3. Oct 21

    Kimi Antonelli could leave Texas as a Formula 1 World Champion.

    The 20-year-old Mercedes driver arrives at the 2026 United States Grand Prix with a huge championship lead and his first mathematical opportunity to secure the title. But winning in Austin alone may not be enough — George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the field still have a major say in when this championship is finally decided. And Max Verstappen is not exactly making life easier. After back-to-back victories in Malaysia and Singapore, Verstappen and Red Bull arrive at Circuit of the Americas with real momentum. Can Max make it three wins in a row, or will COTA expose a different side of Red Bull’s recent improvement? Michaela breaks down the biggest stories heading into the United States Grand Prix, including the pressure Antonelli faces as championship leader, Verstappen’s late-season surge, Ferrari’s chances after Charles Leclerc’s Singapore podium, Lewis Hamilton’s frustrating strategy call, and what Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri need from McLaren as the season enters its final stretch. We’re also getting ready for Circuit of the Americas itself. From the dramatic climb into Turn 1 to the high-speed direction changes, long straight, tire management and track-limit headaches, Michaela explains what makes Austin such a demanding — and entertaining — Formula 1 circuit. F1 Academy is back too, and the championship battle is heating up. Alisha Palmowski leads Emma Felbermayr and Nina Gademan heading into a huge three-race Austin weekend, with only Las Vegas remaining afterward. Whether you’ve followed Formula 1 for years or you’re still learning why a driver might intentionally take one corner slower to make the overall lap faster, Lights Out, Let’s Chat gives you the context without drowning you in technical jargon. So what happens in Texas? Does Antonelli move one step closer to history — or actually finish the job? Can Verstappen win three straight? And who could surprise everyone at COTA? Follow Lights Out, Let’s Chat and come back each week as Michaela makes sense of the racing, strategy, personalities and chaos of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

  4. Oct 14

    Episode 35: Singapore Chaos! Nine Sprint Retirements, Verstappen’s Sweep & McLaren Drama

    Singapore gave us one of the wildest Formula 1 weekends of 2026—and we're still trying to process everything that happened. Nine retirements in a 20-lap sprint. George Russell taking the lead before crashing on the opening lap. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri colliding on the final lap. And Max Verstappen? He decided to win the sprint, take Grand Prix pole, and finally conquer Singapore. In Episode 35 of Lights Out, Let’s Chat, Michaela breaks down the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, from the rain-soaked sprint to Sunday's race, and explains the decisions, mistakes, and moments that shaped the results. We're talking about: Max Verstappen's Singapore sweep and what it means for Red Bull. George Russell's disastrous weekend and the championship implications. McLaren's costly Norris–Piastri collision and the debate over teammate racing. Ferrari's promising pace, strategy decisions, and missed opportunities. Kimi Antonelli's championship position as the season moves forward. The crashes, mechanical failures, and safety-car drama that turned Singapore upside down. Plus, Mike joins us for Mr. F1 Wisdom of the Week, and Michaela tackles a beginner-friendly Question of the Week: Why can Formula 1 drivers struggle with braking even when their brakes haven't actually failed? Whether you've followed F1 for years or you're just getting started, we're here to make the racing, strategy, and drama easier to understand—and a lot more fun to talk about. Formula 1 Doesn't Have To Be Intimidating. Join the Conversation. Follow Lights Out, Let's Chat on Spotify so you don't miss the next episode. #Formula1 #SingaporeGP #MaxVerstappen #F1Podcast #LightsOutLetsChat

  5. Oct 7

    Episode 34: Verstappen Wins in the Rain—Hamilton Goes P18 to P3 & Kimi Extends His Lead

    Max Verstappen is finally back on top—but getting there was anything but simple. A rain-soaked race, a 90-minute delay, changing tyre conditions and multiple safety cars turned the weekend into chaos. Max Verstappen fought back to claim his first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season, while Kimi Antonelli finished second and quietly turned another difficult weekend into an even bigger championship advantage. s1E34 Bahrain-timestamped s1E34 Bahrain-timestamped And then there was Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's gamble on slick tyres initially looked like a disaster as Hamilton fell all the way to P18. Somehow, Lewis fought his way back through the field and finished P3, with Charles Leclerc right behind him in fourth. s1E34 Bahrain-timestamped s1E34 Bahrain-timestamped In Episode 34 of Lights Out, Let's Chat, Michaela breaks down the entire weekend in a way that makes sense whether you've followed Formula 1 for years or you're still figuring out why everyone suddenly panics when it starts raining. We’re talking: Max Verstappen's first win of 2026Lewis Hamilton's incredible P18 → P3 recoveryKimi Antonelli extending his championship lead to 84 pointsGeorge Russell's devastating retirementFerrari's wild wet-weather tyre gambleLando Norris nearly hitting Oscar Piastri behind the Safety CarWhy intermediate and full-wet tyres are differentMr. F1 Wisdom of the Week with MikeWhat this all means heading into SingaporeIf Formula 1 sometimes feels like everyone else knows a secret language, Lights Out, Let's Chat is for you. We're a female-friendly, beginner-friendly F1 podcast where you don't need to know every regulation, strategy call or tyre compound to join the conversation. Formula 1 doesn't have to be intimidating. Join the conversation. Follow the show so you don't miss Episode 35, and send this episode to the friend who's just getting into F1. #Formula1 #F1Podcast #MaxVerstappen #LewisHamilton #KimiAntonelli #F1ForBeginners #WomenInMotorsport

  6. Sep 30

    Episode 33: Russell Wins Baku by 0.196 Seconds—Max Nearly Steals It & Kimi Fights Back

    George Russell just won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by 0.196 seconds. After 51 laps around Baku, Max Verstappen was less than two-tenths of a second away from stealing the win at the line — and somehow that wasn't even close to the only chaos this weekend. In Episode 33 of Lights Out, Let's Chat, Michaela breaks down a wild Baku weekend from FP1 all the way through one of the closest finishes of the season. George Russell looked fast from the beginning. He topped FP1 and FP2, put together a huge qualifying lap for pole, and controlled much of the race. Then the safety cars changed everything. Max Verstappen charged from P8 to P2, erased George's comfortable advantage and spent the closing laps hunting him down. Meanwhile, championship leader Kimi Antonelli had a nightmare qualifying. He hit the wall, couldn't continue in Q2 and started all the way back in P16. Then he fought his way back to P5. The damage to his championship lead? George took 15 points out of it in one weekend, cutting Kimi's advantage from 81 points to 66. And that was only part of Baku. Isack Hadjar returned after missing three races and immediately put himself on the podium. McLaren went from starting P3 and P5 to leaving Baku with a P14 and a DNF. Aston Martin lost both cars. Alex Albon hit the wall. Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly made contact before Gasly was sent into Lando Norris. And by the end of the race, seven drivers had failed to finish. Yeah. Baku happened. In Episode 33: George Russell's dominant Baku weekendThe 0.196-second finish between Russell and VerstappenKimi Antonelli's qualifying crash and P16-to-P5 recoveryKimi's championship lead dropping from 81 to 66 pointsIsack Hadjar's comeback podiumMax Verstappen charging from P8 to P2McLaren's disastrous weekendLando Norris and the chaotic restart collisionSeven DNFs and two safety carsFerrari getting both cars to the finishMr. F1 Wisdom of the Week with MikeWhat actually happens during a safety car restart?For our newer Formula 1 fans, Question of the Week couldn't have arrived at a better time. What actually happens during a safety car restart? Michaela explains why the field gets bunched together, why the leader controls the pace, why cold tyres and brakes can become a problem, and why Turn 1 can suddenly become complete chaos. And after Baku, the championship has another question: Can George Russell keep closing the gap, or will Kimi Antonelli respond? Whether you've watched Formula 1 for years or Baku left you wondering why there were suddenly only 15 cars left, you're welcome here. Formula 1 Doesn't Have To Be Intimidating. Join the Conversation. Follow Lights Out, Let's Chat so you don't miss Episode 34, and share the show with an F1 fan — or somebody who's just getting started. #Formula1 #AzerbaijanGP #GeorgeRussell #MaxVerstappen #KimiAntonelli #F1Podcast

  7. Sep 23

    Baku Is Coming—Can Anyone Stop Kimi Antonelli?

    Baku is coming — and Kimi Antonelli has made everybody else's championship fight very uncomfortable. After taking his eighth win of the season in Madrid, Antonelli heads to Azerbaijan with an 81-point championship lead over George Russell. To put that into perspective: Russell could win the next three Grands Prix while Kimi scored absolutely nothing and he'd still be six points behind. So... can anybody start closing the gap? In Episode 32 of Lights Out, Let's Chat, Michaela gets you ready for one of Formula 1's strangest and most unpredictable circuits: Baku. We're breaking down why the Baku City Circuit creates such a difficult setup challenge, what makes the famous castle section so unforgiving, why that enormous straight matters, and what newer F1 fans should watch during practice and qualifying. Then it's championship time. George Russell needs to start taking points away from his teammate. Lando Norris and McLaren arrive with serious pace after Lando's wins in Hungary and Zandvoort and his race-winning speed in Madrid. Max Verstappen has quietly put together two consecutive podiums. And Ferrari? Well... Michaela is once again asking Ferrari for one normal weekend. Please. Just one. We're also back with F1 Academy after three days of testing in Spain. The current grid got two days of track time before 18 young female drivers took over for the rookie test — giving us a first look at some of the names who could become part of F1 Academy's future. Then Mike takes over for another Mr. F1 Wisdom of the Week, with F1 news, rumors and plenty of opinions before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. And for our newer fans, Question of the Week answers something you're probably going to hear constantly at Baku: What exactly is a tow? Michaela explains why following another car can give a driver extra straight-line speed, why drivers deliberately create gaps during qualifying, and why Baku's enormous straight makes the tow especially important. In Episode 32: Why Baku is such a strange Formula 1 circuitKimi Antonelli's 81-point championship leadWhy George Russell needs a responseLando Norris and McLaren's recent speedMax Verstappen's back-to-back podiumsFerrari's search for one normal weekendWhat to watch during Baku practice and qualifyingF1 Academy testing and the 18-driver rookie test Mr. F1 Wisdom of the WeekWhat a tow/slipstream actually means in Formula 1And one important reminder from Michaela: Baku is a SATURDAY race. Not Sunday. You've been warned. Whether you've watched Formula 1 for years or you're still learning why drivers suddenly slow down during qualifying when they're supposedly trying to go fast, you're welcome here. Formula 1 Doesn't Have To Be Intimidating. Join the Conversation. Follow Lights Out, Let's Chat so you don't miss the Baku race recap, and share the show with somebody who loves F1 — or somebody who's just starting to figure it all out. Come visit us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. #Formula1 #AzerbaijanGP #KimiAntonelli #F1Podcast #Baku

  8. Sep 16

    Episode 31: Lando Had Madrid Won—Then Everything Changed

    Lando Norris was leading by more than six seconds—and within one lap, his Madrid Grand Prix was gone. Lando Norris looked set to win Formula 1's first race at Madring — until a perfectly timed VSC for Kimi Antonelli and a slow McLaren pit stop changed everything. Episode 31 breaks down Antonelli's eighth win, Lando's brutal Madrid heartbreak, Verstappen's podium, Ferrari's gamble, Hamilton's DNF, the new circuit, and why a Virtual Safety Car can completely flip an F1 race. Norris started from pole, survived two opening-lap attacks from Kimi Antonelli and built a lead of more than six seconds. Then Lance Stroll stopped his Aston Martin just after Lando had passed the pit entrance. Antonelli, Max Verstappen and George Russell could take advantage of the VSC. Lando couldn't — and when he finally stopped one lap later, a problem with McLaren's front-right tyre dropped him all the way to P5. In Episode 31 of Lights Out, Let's Chat, Michaela breaks down Formula 1's first race at Madrid's new Madring circuit — and why the final Antonelli-Verstappen-Norris podium doesn't come close to telling the whole story. Kimi Antonelli was there when the opportunity came and turned it into his eighth victory in 14 races, extending his championship lead over George Russell to 81 points. Max Verstappen fought his way to second and held off a recovering Norris, while Ferrari rolled the strategy dice with Charles Leclerc after Lewis Hamilton suffered a brake failure and recorded his first DNF of the season. There's also a bigger question about Madring itself. The new circuit looked spectacular, but overtaking proved extremely difficult. Michaela looks at what worked, what didn't, and what Formula 1 could learn from its first weekend in Madrid. And Episode 31 introduces something new: Mr. F1 Wisdom of the Week, with Mike joining the show to ask what actually makes an F1 driver great — winning in the best car, or getting results from a car that shouldn't be near the front? In This Episode: How Lando Norris lost a six-second lead in MadridKimi Antonelli's eighth victory in 14 racesWhy the Virtual Safety Car completely changed the Grand PrixMax Verstappen's fight with Lando for P2Lewis Hamilton's brake failure and first DNF of 2026Charles Leclerc and Ferrari's huge strategy gambleThe good — and bad — of F1's new Madring circuitThe debut of Mr. F1 Wisdom of the Week Michaela also gives newer fans an easy explanation of the Virtual Safety Car, why pit stops can effectively cost less time under a VSC, and why being a few seconds on the wrong side of the pit entrance can completely change a Formula 1 race. Whether you've watched Formula 1 forever or you're still trying to figure out why everyone suddenly gets excited when VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR appears on the screen, you're welcome here. Formula 1 Doesn't Have To Be Intimidating. Join the Conversation. Follow Lights Out, Let's Chat so you don't miss Episode 32, and share the show with someone who loves F1 — or someone who's just starting to figure it all out.

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About

A relaxed, unscripted podcast that begins with Formula 1 and opens the door to everything around it. Lights Out Let’s Chat is for new fans, longtime followers, and anyone who just enjoys a good conversation when the lights go out.

Information

  • Creator
    Michaela Wollmann
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michaela Wollmann
  • Show Website
    Lights Out Lets Chat!