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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

Yuki Tsunoda: Racing Bulls is “pretty impressed” with my performance so far

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
Yuki Tsunoda: Racing Bulls is “pretty impressed” with my performance so far

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Dutch GP

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

Why Max Verstappen’s 2026 Mercedes contact was very different from last year’s

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
Why Max Verstappen’s 2026 Mercedes contact was very different from last year’s

The key to Charles Leclerc overtaking a “quite slow” Lando Norris

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
The key to Charles Leclerc overtaking a “quite slow” Lando Norris

How Yuki Tsunoda’s first day back as an F1 driver went

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
How Yuki Tsunoda’s first day back as an F1 driver went

Allan McNish reveals qualities that give Gabriel Bortoleto “a lot of potential”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
Allan McNish reveals qualities that give Gabriel Bortoleto “a lot of potential”

How Sebastien Buemi and Lucas Di Grassi wrote Formula E’s history

Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix I
How Sebastien Buemi and Lucas Di Grassi wrote Formula E’s history

Cadillac claims Rafael Camara 2027 rumour is “unsubstantiated”, yet admits “things can change”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
Cadillac claims Rafael Camara 2027 rumour is “unsubstantiated”, yet admits “things can change”

Graeme Lowdon leaves Cadillac, replaced by new team principal

Formula 1
Formula 1
Graeme Lowdon leaves Cadillac, replaced by new team principal

Theo Pourchaire focused on new Opel Formula E programme amid doubts over WEC future

WEC
WEC
Theo Pourchaire focused on new Opel Formula E programme amid doubts over WEC future

Mercedes explains key attributes behind Kimi Antonelli’s new 2026 F1 level

Formula 1
Formula 1
Mercedes explains key attributes behind Kimi Antonelli’s new 2026 F1 level

What would you like to ask David Malukas?

IndyCar
Markham
What would you like to ask David Malukas?

Cadillac gives update on its under-construction F1 factories

Formula 1
Formula 1
Cadillac gives update on its under-construction F1 factories

The Next Generation: Jak Crawford

Formula 1
Formula 1
The Next Generation: Jak Crawford

Clark, Senna, Antonelli – How the grand chelem age record has evolved

Formula 1
Clark, Senna, Antonelli – How the grand chelem age record has evolved

What life is like as a Williams F1 simulator driver

Formula 1
Formula 1
What life is like as a Williams F1 simulator driver

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head at summer break

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head at summer break

“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines

Formula 1
Formula 1
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines

Racing Bulls boss’ advice to his F1 drivers: Learn from Max Verstappen’s radio

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungaroring Pirelli test
Racing Bulls boss’ advice to his F1 drivers: Learn from Max Verstappen’s radio

You Ask The Questions: Esteban Ocon

Formula 1
Belgian GP
You Ask The Questions: Esteban Ocon

Audi won’t upgrade F1 power unit again until 2027

Formula 1
Formula 1
Audi won’t upgrade F1 power unit again until 2027

Haas “fighting with both hands tied” as it fails to match budget cap

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Haas “fighting with both hands tied” as it fails to match budget cap

Pirelli will have to rely on 2017 data as F1 returns to Sepang

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Pirelli will have to rely on 2017 data as F1 returns to Sepang

Kimi Antonelli: ‘Toto Wolff picked me for 2025 Mercedes F1 seat before I’d even raced F2’

Formula 1
Formula 1
Kimi Antonelli: ‘Toto Wolff picked me for 2025 Mercedes F1 seat before I’d even raced F2’

No more battery info on F1 TV graphics? ‘Fans don’t care about that’, F1 boss responds

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
No more battery info on F1 TV graphics? ‘Fans don’t care about that’, F1 boss responds

Franco Colapinto’s ominous warning on Aston Martin’s upgraded F1 car

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Franco Colapinto’s ominous warning on Aston Martin’s upgraded F1 car

How Ferrari has performed so far in F1 2026

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
How Ferrari has performed so far in F1 2026

Fred Vasseur owns up to Ferrari’s “very poor” execution in Hungarian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Fred Vasseur owns up to Ferrari’s “very poor” execution in Hungarian GP

Lando Norris: ‘I was better than Piastri in every sense’ in battle for victory

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Lando Norris: ‘I was better than Piastri in every sense’ in battle for victory

How a blue-flag malfunction caused a “nightmare” in F1 Hungarian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
How a blue-flag malfunction caused a “nightmare” in F1 Hungarian GP

Malaysia will officially host F1's 2026 Bahrain GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Malaysia will officially host F1's 2026 Bahrain GP

Haas “shouldn’t be fighting with” Aston Martin – Oliver Bearman

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Haas “shouldn’t be fighting with” Aston Martin – Oliver Bearman

Lewis Hamilton under investigation by Hungarian GP stewards over impeding

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Lewis Hamilton under investigation by Hungarian GP stewards over impeding

Haas F1 car inconsistency makes it hard to judge Esteban Ocon – Ayao Komatsu

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Haas F1 car inconsistency makes it hard to judge Esteban Ocon – Ayao Komatsu

Mercedes: Software issue “affected George more than Kimi”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Mercedes: Software issue “affected George more than Kimi”

The Next Generation: Nikola Tsolov

FIA F2
FIA F2
Spa-Francorchamps
The Next Generation: Nikola Tsolov

F2 title race takes shape as F1 juniors shine at Spa

FIA F2
FIA F2
Spa-Francorchamps
F2 title race takes shape as F1 juniors shine at Spa

Mercedes is open to team orders now – but it’s not what you think

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Mercedes is open to team orders now – but it’s not what you think

What makes Kimi Antonelli such a good F1 driver now, as per Toto Wolff

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
What makes Kimi Antonelli such a good F1 driver now, as per Toto Wolff

The odd strategy that made Isack Hadjar’s recovery from 21st to sixth

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
The odd strategy that made Isack Hadjar’s recovery from 21st to sixth

Charles Leclerc deserved black-and-white flag for collision, Oscar Piastri insists

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Charles Leclerc deserved black-and-white flag for collision, Oscar Piastri insists

Carlos Sainz praises Kimi Antonelli for apology after “idiot” comment

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Carlos Sainz praises Kimi Antonelli for apology after “idiot” comment

Oscar Piastri has been “too clean” for 2026 F1 cars – Andrea Stella

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Oscar Piastri has been “too clean” for 2026 F1 cars – Andrea Stella

McLaren on Max Verstappen: ‘We’d need a third car for him’

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
McLaren on Max Verstappen: ‘We’d need a third car for him’

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Belgian GP

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

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes ‘still the team to beat’ at Belgian GP alongside McLaren

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes ‘still the team to beat’ at Belgian GP alongside McLaren

Alpine explains Pierre Gasly crash that red-flagged FP2

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Alpine explains Pierre Gasly crash that red-flagged FP2

Red Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 race

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Red Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 race

Has Haas actually been outdeveloped by its F1 rivals?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Has Haas actually been outdeveloped by its F1 rivals?

‘Like being asked to draw the Mona Lisa’ – How George Russell is struggling to match Kimi Antonelli

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
‘Like being asked to draw the Mona Lisa’ – How George Russell is struggling to match Kimi Antonelli

Lewis Hamilton still avoiding Ferrari’s F1 sim: ‘It’s helped me massively’

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton still avoiding Ferrari’s F1 sim: ‘It’s helped me massively’

Honda confirms when its new F1 power unit will be introduced on Aston Martin car

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Honda confirms when its new F1 power unit will be introduced on Aston Martin car

How British GP win might help Charles Leclerc “massively” in F1 2026

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
How British GP win might help Charles Leclerc “massively” in F1 2026

Toto Wolff: I stand by Mercedes' performance focus, but now we must sort reliability

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Toto Wolff: I stand by Mercedes' performance focus, but now we must sort reliability

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head so far

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head so far

Cadillac reveals “substantial upgrade package” for F1 Austrian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Cadillac reveals “substantial upgrade package” for F1 Austrian GP

Jacques Villeneuve calls on Ferrari to favour Lewis Hamilton – but will it happen?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Jacques Villeneuve calls on Ferrari to favour Lewis Hamilton – but will it happen?

“He doesn't hide anything” – Isack Hadjar opens up on team-mate relationship with Max Verstappen

Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
“He doesn't hide anything” – Isack Hadjar opens up on team-mate relationship with Max Verstappen

Missing out on Ferrari F1 drive felt like "bleeding" to Robert Kubica

Formula 1
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Missing out on Ferrari F1 drive felt like "bleeding" to Robert Kubica

Formula E Sanya: Jake Dennis wins red-flagged race as title leader Mitch Evans retires

Formula E
Formula E
Sanya ePrix
Formula E Sanya: Jake Dennis wins red-flagged race as title leader Mitch Evans retires