How to execute :format and :write sequentially in Helix on escape?

[allaboutevemirolive]

First Question:
How can I properly combine :format and :write in a single keybinding? At the moment, my keybinding only runs :format but does not execute :write afterward. The original keybinding setup can be found here:

#2542 (comment)

This is what I want to achieve:

# Format and autosave on `esc` key.
[keys.normal]
"esc" = ["collapse_selection", ":format", ":w"]

[keys.select]
"esc" = ["collapse_selection", "normal_mode", ":format", ":w"]

[keys.insert]
"esc" = ["normal_mode", ":format", ":w"]

Second Question:
Why doesn't the following command execute both actions sequentially?

[keys.normal]
"f" = [":format", ":write"]

Currently, I rely on this workaround, but it isn't ideal (and it's unrelated to the first question):

[keys.normal]
"f" = [":format"]
"r" = [":write"]

Does anyone know why the original combined command doesn't work as expected?