Skip to main content
Ben Vinel
Author

Ben Vinel

Ben Vinel joined Motorsport's Global team as a news writer and editor in January 2024 after eleven years at Motorsport France and its predecessor ToileF1.com, specialising in Formula 1 and junior formulae. Ben previously taught French at Bishop Stopford School (Kettering, UK) and Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) but jumped at the opportunity to work full-time in motorsport journalism thereafter.

Latest articles by Ben Vinel

Emerson Fittipaldi on Jochen Rindt’s death and how he became Team Lotus’ F1 leader

Formula 1
Formula 1
Emerson Fittipaldi on Jochen Rindt’s death and how he became Team Lotus’ F1 leader

“It’s a joke” – Isack Hadjar rues ‘disastrous’ race in “horrible” car with “no battery”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
“It’s a joke” – Isack Hadjar rues ‘disastrous’ race in “horrible” car with “no battery”

FIA reveals why F1 cars stopped in rain at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
FIA reveals why F1 cars stopped in rain at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

George Russell: “You’ve got to laugh” at bad luck as F1 title drifts away

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
George Russell: “You’ve got to laugh” at bad luck as F1 title drifts away

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen wins in chaos as George Russell retires

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen wins in chaos as George Russell retires

You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi

Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Cadillac fix cooled F1 brakes by 100C – Valtteri Bottas

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Cadillac fix cooled F1 brakes by 100C – Valtteri Bottas

“I fear something bad is going to happen soon” – 2026 F1 cars are “too dangerous”, Sergio Perez warns

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
“I fear something bad is going to happen soon” – 2026 F1 cars are “too dangerous”, Sergio Perez warns

Esteban Ocon: “I’m one of the best, and I’m not afraid to say it”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Esteban Ocon: “I’m one of the best, and I’m not afraid to say it”

Colton Herta aiming at F1 by 2028: 'I still have a chance'

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Colton Herta aiming at F1 by 2028: 'I still have a chance'

How was Valtteri Bottas so much slower than Sergio Perez in the Azerbaijan GP?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
How was Valtteri Bottas so much slower than Sergio Perez in the Azerbaijan GP?

Oscar Piastri: Error that cost me F1 Azerbaijan GP podium was "a bit weird"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Oscar Piastri: Error that cost me F1 Azerbaijan GP podium was "a bit weird"

Alpine makes statement as Franco Colapinto-related abuse accelerates

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Alpine makes statement as Franco Colapinto-related abuse accelerates

Charles Leclerc: “McLaren and Red Bull did a step forward that we didn’t do”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Charles Leclerc: “McLaren and Red Bull did a step forward that we didn’t do”

Why Mercedes didn’t expect “Monza 2.0” from Kimi Antonelli in Baku

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Why Mercedes didn’t expect “Monza 2.0” from Kimi Antonelli in Baku

Liam Lawson: “I don’t understand” why Arvid Lindblad escaped penalty after wrecking my floor

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Liam Lawson: “I don’t understand” why Arvid Lindblad escaped penalty after wrecking my floor

Franco Colapinto penalty revealed for causing Baku F1 pile-up

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Franco Colapinto penalty revealed for causing Baku F1 pile-up

Pierre Gasly feeling “crushed” after Franco Colapinto took him out of Azerbaijan GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Pierre Gasly feeling “crushed” after Franco Colapinto took him out of Azerbaijan GP

"A big mistake" - Devastated Franco Colapinto apologises to Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris for Baku F1 crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
"A big mistake" - Devastated Franco Colapinto apologises to Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris for Baku F1 crash

Lando Norris: FIA should hand out race ban for Franco Colapinto's Baku F1 crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Lando Norris: FIA should hand out race ban for Franco Colapinto's Baku F1 crash

How McLaren’s major F1 upgrade has been working in Baku

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
How McLaren’s major F1 upgrade has been working in Baku

Lando Norris: ‘I have to go for it or die trying’ to win 2026 F1 title

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Lando Norris: ‘I have to go for it or die trying’ to win 2026 F1 title

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Azerbaijan GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Azerbaijan GP

Williams’ long-awaited F1 upgrade is delivering in Baku – but was Q3 an “overachievement”?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Williams’ long-awaited F1 upgrade is delivering in Baku – but was Q3 an “overachievement”?

Esteban Ocon fed up after Baku mishap: ‘I don’t deserve all this sh*t’

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Esteban Ocon fed up after Baku mishap: ‘I don’t deserve all this sh*t’

What was Lando Norris' top-speed problem in Baku qualifying?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
What was Lando Norris' top-speed problem in Baku qualifying?

Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower

Kimi Antonelli angry at himself for Baku crash: "I need to do a much better job"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Kimi Antonelli angry at himself for Baku crash: "I need to do a much better job"

Lando Norris: McLaren’s Baku deficit is a “knife in the heart”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Lando Norris: McLaren’s Baku deficit is a “knife in the heart”

Lewis Hamilton disagrees with decision to reduce F1 race lengths

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Lewis Hamilton disagrees with decision to reduce F1 race lengths

How Lando Norris gets better at F1 with a Hypercar test

WEC
WEC
Fuji
How Lando Norris gets better at F1 with a Hypercar test

Esteban Ocon considers himself a "free agent" with Haas yet to decide on F1 2027 drivers

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Esteban Ocon considers himself a "free agent" with Haas yet to decide on F1 2027 drivers

What would you like to ask Emerson Fittipaldi?

Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
What would you like to ask Emerson Fittipaldi?

Why Charles Leclerc didn’t copy Lewis Hamilton’s driving style amid F1 2026 struggle

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Why Charles Leclerc didn’t copy Lewis Hamilton’s driving style amid F1 2026 struggle

Yuki Tsunoda reveals why he failed to master Red Bull's F1 car in 2025

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Yuki Tsunoda reveals why he failed to master Red Bull's F1 car in 2025

“I’m not enjoying life” – How Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull F1 stint “exhausted” him

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
“I’m not enjoying life” – How Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull F1 stint “exhausted” him

Was Cadillac “faster” than Williams in Madring F1 race?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Was Cadillac “faster” than Williams in Madring F1 race?

Sebastian Vettel: “I’d be very happy” for Kimi Antonelli to beat me as F1’s youngest champion

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Sebastian Vettel: “I’d be very happy” for Kimi Antonelli to beat me as F1’s youngest champion

Why Ferrari won't switch focus to 2027 F1 car yet

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Why Ferrari won't switch focus to 2027 F1 car yet

Lando Norris lost Madring F1 win because of impossible overtaking – McLaren

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Lando Norris lost Madring F1 win because of impossible overtaking – McLaren

Mercedes explains why George Russell pitted under VSC at Madring

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Mercedes explains why George Russell pitted under VSC at Madring

F1 world champion among drivers for Race Of Champions’ first New Zealand event

Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 world champion among drivers for Race Of Champions’ first New Zealand event

Audi F1 junior Freddie Slater signs F2 deal for 2027 season

FIA F2
FIA F2
Madrid
Audi F1 junior Freddie Slater signs F2 deal for 2027 season

Red Bull insists “there is nothing wrong” with Isack Hadjar's recovery

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Red Bull insists “there is nothing wrong” with Isack Hadjar's recovery

George Russell closer than ever to giving up on 2026 F1 title

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
George Russell closer than ever to giving up on 2026 F1 title

F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli wins again as VSC costs Lando Norris

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli wins again as VSC costs Lando Norris

Mercedes thought it had pole position until Lando Norris came along

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Mercedes thought it had pole position until Lando Norris came along

Max Verstappen: ‘I need to figure out where to overtake’ to win F1 Spanish GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Max Verstappen: ‘I need to figure out where to overtake’ to win F1 Spanish GP

Colton Herta withdraws from both Madring F2 races

FIA F2
FIA F2
Madrid
Colton Herta withdraws from both Madring F2 races

Former McLaren F1 junior Ugo Ugochukwu wins Formula 3 title

FIA F3
FIA F3
Madrid
Former McLaren F1 junior Ugo Ugochukwu wins Formula 3 title

“Pretty shocking”, “quite messy” – Oscar Piastri bewildered by poor Madring F1 qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
“Pretty shocking”, “quite messy” – Oscar Piastri bewildered by poor Madring F1 qualifying

Lando Norris lost “three tenths” on way to shock Madring F1 pole

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Lando Norris lost “three tenths” on way to shock Madring F1 pole

After Madring F1 crash, Arvid Lindblad insists: “I'm allowed to make mistakes”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
After Madring F1 crash, Arvid Lindblad insists: “I'm allowed to make mistakes”

George Russell explains how he ended up a lowly sixth in Madring F1 qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
George Russell explains how he ended up a lowly sixth in Madring F1 qualifying

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Spanish GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Spanish GP

Aston Martin claims Lance Stroll is “unbeatable” at many F1 tracks

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Aston Martin claims Lance Stroll is “unbeatable” at many F1 tracks

F1 Spanish GP: George Russell tops FP1 as Lewis Hamilton impedes several drivers

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: George Russell tops FP1 as Lewis Hamilton impedes several drivers

George Russell reveals when he’ll take his own F1 engine penalty

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
George Russell reveals when he’ll take his own F1 engine penalty

Esteban Ocon: ‘Haas may be testing new drivers, but drivers aren’t the problem’

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Esteban Ocon: ‘Haas may be testing new drivers, but drivers aren’t the problem’