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Ben Vinel
Author

Ben Vinel

Ben Vinel joined the Autosport 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 in Kettering and Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) but jumped at the opportunity to work full-time in motorsport journalism thereafter.

Latest articles by Ben Vinel

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 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

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

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

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

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

Le Mans 24h: Cadillac leads BMW in FP4

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

Le Mans 24h: BMW inherits pole position after Cadillac penalty

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: BMW inherits pole position after Cadillac penalty

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

Le Mans 24h: Cadillac dominates FP1 with rivals 1.7s down

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: Cadillac dominates FP1 with rivals 1.7s down

Mercedes takes blame for Russell Monaco GP penalty

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Mercedes takes blame for Russell Monaco GP penalty

Cadillac loses maiden F1 point as Perez penalised

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Cadillac loses maiden F1 point as Perez penalised

Russell “beyond frustration” after dismal, point-less Monaco GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Russell “beyond frustration” after dismal, point-less Monaco GP

Leclerc reveals reason for Monaco GP crash: “Three out of four brakes not working”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Leclerc reveals reason for Monaco GP crash: “Three out of four brakes not working”

Leclerc explains crash that cost shot at Monaco GP pole

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Leclerc explains crash that cost shot at Monaco GP pole

Russell bemused by pace deficit to F1 title rival Antonelli

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Russell bemused by pace deficit to F1 title rival Antonelli

Alonso slams 2026 F1 cars as “worst ever” in Monaco

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alonso slams 2026 F1 cars as “worst ever” in Monaco

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

What would you like to ask Robert Kubica?

WEC
WEC
What would you like to ask Robert Kubica?

McLaren: Pirelli F1 tests will help Ferrari, Red Bull for rainy Canadian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
McLaren: Pirelli F1 tests will help Ferrari, Red Bull for rainy Canadian GP

Hamilton’s sim-less approach seems to pay off as he outqualifies Leclerc twice at Canadian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
Hamilton’s sim-less approach seems to pay off as he outqualifies Leclerc twice at Canadian GP

F1 Canadian GP: Russell wins sprint after Antonelli clash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP: Russell wins sprint after Antonelli clash

Why Aston Martin hasn’t updated its F1 car since March

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
Why Aston Martin hasn’t updated its F1 car since March

Norris points out a key problem with F1 2026's energy management demands

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
Norris points out a key problem with F1 2026's energy management demands

F1 Canadian GP: Antonelli fastest ahead of sprint qualifying, Russell spins

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP: Antonelli fastest ahead of sprint qualifying, Russell spins

What will F1's switch to a 60-40 power split bring? The drivers give their verdict

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Formula 1
Canadian GP
What will F1's switch to a 60-40 power split bring? The drivers give their verdict

Williams signs key leaders from McLaren, Mercedes, Alpine

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Formula 1
Canadian GP
Williams signs key leaders from McLaren, Mercedes, Alpine

How Hamilton switched to a "different approach" for F1 Canadian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
How Hamilton switched to a "different approach" for F1 Canadian GP

How Colton Herta is chasing his F1 dream

Formula 1
Formula 1
How Colton Herta is chasing his F1 dream

Red Bull enjoyed a "step forward" at Miami GP but still behind F1's best

Formula 1
Formula 1
Red Bull enjoyed a "step forward" at Miami GP but still behind F1's best

What would you like to ask Valtteri Bottas?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
What would you like to ask Valtteri Bottas?

FIA announces 2027 F1 rule changes for combustion and electrical output

Formula 1
Formula 1
FIA announces 2027 F1 rule changes for combustion and electrical output

On this day: Hakkinen’s last-lap heartbreak

Formula 1
Formula 1
On this day: Hakkinen’s last-lap heartbreak

Vettel claims F1 is losing its DNA – but does it even exist?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Vettel claims F1 is losing its DNA – but does it even exist?

Ex-F1 race director Wittich defends Masi's decision-making at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

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Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
Ex-F1 race director Wittich defends Masi's decision-making at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

The questions that still need answering from the start of the 2026 F1 season

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Formula 1
The questions that still need answering from the start of the 2026 F1 season

McLaren confirms signing of Verstappen's F1 race engineer Lambiase

Formula 1
Formula 1
McLaren confirms signing of Verstappen's F1 race engineer Lambiase

How Bearman is already securing his Ferrari F1 future

Formula 1
Formula 1
How Bearman is already securing his Ferrari F1 future

Where Leclerc thinks Ferrari can achieve "huge gains" on F1 2026 car

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Formula 1
Japanese GP
Where Leclerc thinks Ferrari can achieve "huge gains" on F1 2026 car

Alpine F1 team denies Colapinto sabotage claims in open letter

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alpine F1 team denies Colapinto sabotage claims in open letter

Why Red Bull doesn’t regret F1 2025 title charge it’s now ‘paying the price’ for

Formula 1
Formula 1
Why Red Bull doesn’t regret F1 2025 title charge it’s now ‘paying the price’ for

‘Stop beating yourself up,’ Haas tells Bearman after 50G Japanese GP crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
‘Stop beating yourself up,’ Haas tells Bearman after 50G Japanese GP crash

Red Bull F1 car so undriveable it was “dangerous” at Suzuka - Hadjar

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Formula 1
Japanese GP
Red Bull F1 car so undriveable it was “dangerous” at Suzuka - Hadjar

F1 Japanese GP: Safety car helps Antonelli to victory

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Formula 1
Japanese GP
F1 Japanese GP: Safety car helps Antonelli to victory

Verstappen: “I'm not even frustrated anymore, I'm beyond that”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Verstappen: “I'm not even frustrated anymore, I'm beyond that”

F1 Japanese GP: Antonelli on pole again, Verstappen out in Q2

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
F1 Japanese GP: Antonelli on pole again, Verstappen out in Q2

Why Hamilton believes 2026 F1 rules are “what racing should be” – unlike Verstappen

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Why Hamilton believes 2026 F1 rules are “what racing should be” – unlike Verstappen

How April F1 break will impact Red Bull and Aston Martin

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Formula 1
Japanese GP
How April F1 break will impact Red Bull and Aston Martin

Eight shock Formula 1 team principal changes

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Formula 1
Eight shock Formula 1 team principal changes

Wheatley officially leaves Audi ahead of expected Aston Martin move

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
Wheatley officially leaves Audi ahead of expected Aston Martin move

Opel enters Formula E for Gen4 era

Formula E
Formula E
Opel enters Formula E for Gen4 era

Why Ferrari believes F1 engine rules tweak won't stop Mercedes

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
Why Ferrari believes F1 engine rules tweak won't stop Mercedes

Why Hamilton is 'back to his best' in F1 2026

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
Why Hamilton is 'back to his best' in F1 2026

McLaren drivers explain what led to double DNS at F1 Chinese GP

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
McLaren drivers explain what led to double DNS at F1 Chinese GP

Why Ferrari didn't use its 'Macarena' rear wing after FP1 at Chinese GP

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
Why Ferrari didn't use its 'Macarena' rear wing after FP1 at Chinese GP

F1 Chinese GP: Russell grabs sprint race pole in Mercedes 1-2

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
F1 Chinese GP: Russell grabs sprint race pole in Mercedes 1-2

Briatore confirms Mercedes hoping to buy Alpine F1 team share

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Formula 1
Briatore confirms Mercedes hoping to buy Alpine F1 team share

F1 Chinese GP: Russell tops only practice session as Sainz, Lindblad suffer issues

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Formula 1
Chinese GP
F1 Chinese GP: Russell tops only practice session as Sainz, Lindblad suffer issues

Mercedes has "a fight on our hands with Ferrari" as true F1 pace order revealed

Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Mercedes has "a fight on our hands with Ferrari" as true F1 pace order revealed

F1 Australian GP: Russell leads Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari’s strategy fails

Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
F1 Australian GP: Russell leads Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari’s strategy fails

Verstappen undergoes X-ray on hands after Australian GP qualifying crash

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Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen undergoes X-ray on hands after Australian GP qualifying crash