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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

“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

Jack Doohan no longer cares what other people think after F1 hardship

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Jack Doohan no longer cares what other people think after F1 hardship

You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica

Formula 1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica

Why Le Mans DNF was a “dagger in the heart” of Bourdais

WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why Le Mans DNF was a “dagger in the heart” of Bourdais

How the #8 Toyota lost the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
How the #8 Toyota lost the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

Le Mans race-ending Cadillac failure is a “dagger in the heart” – Sebastien Bourdais

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans race-ending Cadillac failure is a “dagger in the heart” – Sebastien Bourdais

Le Mans 24h, H8: Safety car blows race wide open

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h, H8: Safety car blows race wide open

Le Mans 24h, H1: Toyota takes lead from 15th on the grid

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h, H1: Toyota takes lead from 15th on the grid

Jack Doohan on his first Le Mans, driving LMP2 cars, and life away from F1

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Jack Doohan on his first Le Mans, driving LMP2 cars, and life away from F1

How Romain Dumas is walking in the footsteps of other Le Mans legends

WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
How Romain Dumas is walking in the footsteps of other Le Mans legends

Le Mans polesetter Dries Vanthoor on record-breaking lap, penalty drama, and BMW’s odds for victory

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans polesetter Dries Vanthoor on record-breaking lap, penalty drama, and BMW’s odds for victory

“I know I’m going to die here” – Anthony Davidson reflects on back-breaking Le Mans crash

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
“I know I’m going to die here” – Anthony Davidson reflects on back-breaking Le Mans crash

Le Mans 24h: Cadillac beats BMW… in FP4

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: Cadillac beats BMW… in FP4

Le Mans 24h: Cadillac snatches pole away from BMW by 0.005s... then gets penalty

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: Cadillac snatches pole away from BMW by 0.005s... then gets penalty

Peugeot’s scathing explanation for Le Mans qualifying debacle: “We are in WEC”

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Peugeot’s scathing explanation for Le Mans qualifying debacle: “We are in WEC”

Le Mans 24h: Alpine fastest in qualifying, Le Mans-winning Ferrari is out

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: Alpine fastest in qualifying, Le Mans-winning Ferrari is out

Why Cadillac has a better chance of winning Le Mans this year

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why Cadillac has a better chance of winning Le Mans this year

Le Mans 24h: Cadillac tops FP1 by a mile, with rivals 1.7s down

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: Cadillac tops FP1 by a mile, with rivals 1.7s down