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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

Colapinto urges fans to stop online abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Colapinto urges fans to stop online abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Ferrari explains Hamilton’s failed Singapore GP gamble

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari explains Hamilton’s failed Singapore GP gamble

Hamilton takes blame for poor Singapore GP strategy call

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Hamilton takes blame for poor Singapore GP strategy call

F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen takes comfortable victory from Leclerc and Antonelli

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen takes comfortable victory from Leclerc and Antonelli

FIA admits fairness was compromised in Singapore GP sprint qualifying “mess”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
FIA admits fairness was compromised in Singapore GP sprint qualifying “mess”

Russell bemoans "very bad" Saturday at Singapore GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Russell bemoans "very bad" Saturday at Singapore GP

F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen continues recent dominance with pole

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen continues recent dominance with pole

F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen wins chaotic wet sprint after Russell's crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen wins chaotic wet sprint after Russell's crash

F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen storms to sprint pole with Antonelli only seventh

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
F1 Singapore GP: Verstappen storms to sprint pole with Antonelli only seventh

Is Antonelli favoured by Mercedes? Wolff responds to latest claims

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Is Antonelli favoured by Mercedes? Wolff responds to latest claims

F1 Singapore GP: Russell tops FP1 with Verstappen also impressing

Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
F1 Singapore GP: Russell tops FP1 with Verstappen also impressing

FIA explains software glitch that caused Bahrain GP in Malaysia race delay

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
FIA explains software glitch that caused Bahrain GP in Malaysia race delay

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

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

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen wins chaotic race from Antonelli as Russell retires late on

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen wins chaotic race from Antonelli as Russell retires late on

You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi

Herta still aiming for F1 by 2028

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Herta still aiming for F1 by 2028

Alpine condemns abuse again following Colapinto's Azerbaijan GP crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Alpine condemns abuse again following Colapinto's Azerbaijan GP crash

Colapinto handed Sepang penalty for causing Baku F1 pile-up

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Colapinto handed Sepang penalty for causing Baku F1 pile-up

Norris demands ban for Colapinto after Azerbaijan GP crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Norris demands ban for Colapinto after Azerbaijan GP crash

What’s behind Norris’ top-speed issue in Baku – and why McLaren itself is down on Mercedes

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
What’s behind Norris’ top-speed issue in Baku – and why McLaren itself is down on Mercedes

Hamilton frustrated after late Ferrari qualifying strategy change: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Hamilton frustrated after late Ferrari qualifying strategy change: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’

Antonelli angry at "unnecessary" Azerbaijan GP qualifying crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Antonelli angry at "unnecessary" Azerbaijan GP qualifying crash

How McLaren Hypercar test will help Norris in F1

WEC
WEC
Fuji
How McLaren Hypercar test will help Norris in F1

"Free agent" Ocon talking to other teams with Haas yet to confirm F1 2027 line-up

Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
"Free agent" Ocon talking to other teams with Haas yet to confirm F1 2027 line-up

What would you like to ask Emerson Fittipaldi?

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

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

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

Tsunoda's in-depth look at why he failed to master Red Bull’s F1 car in 2025

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Tsunoda's in-depth look at why he failed to master Red Bull’s F1 car in 2025

Ferrari not yet switching focus to 2027 F1 car

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Ferrari not yet switching focus to 2027 F1 car

Slater to graduate from F3 to F2 for 2027

FIA F2
FIA F2
Madrid
Slater to graduate from F3 to F2 for 2027

F1 Spanish GP: Antonelli wins after Norris loses out under VSC

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Antonelli wins after Norris loses out under VSC

Verstappen: Victory at Spanish GP to be "tough" with lack of overtaking opportunities

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Verstappen: Victory at Spanish GP to be "tough" with lack of overtaking opportunities

Ugochukwu beats Slater to win F3 title

FIA F3
FIA F3
Madrid
Ugochukwu beats Slater to win F3 title

F1 Spanish GP: Mercedes tops FP1 with Russell fastest at Madring

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Mercedes tops FP1 with Russell fastest at Madring

Russell set to take F1 engine penalty after Mercedes introduces power unit upgrade

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Russell set to take F1 engine penalty after Mercedes introduces power unit upgrade

Hamilton: I don’t want preferential treatment from Ferrari

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Hamilton: I don’t want preferential treatment from Ferrari

Verstappen points to Lawson and Tsunoda as proof F1 2026 is too easy

Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Verstappen points to Lawson and Tsunoda as proof F1 2026 is too easy

On this day: Schumacher announces F1 retirement at Monza

Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Schumacher announces F1 retirement at Monza

Trackhouse to enter just one bike for San Marino GP as Ogura withdraws

MotoGP
MotoGP
San Marino GP
Trackhouse to enter just one bike for San Marino GP as Ogura withdraws

Leclerc needs further health checks after heavy Italian GP crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Leclerc needs further health checks after heavy Italian GP crash

Why Leclerc is likely to tow Hamilton in Italian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Why Leclerc is likely to tow Hamilton in Italian GP qualifying

Gasly loses Monaco GP podium as penalties reinstated following McLaren and Red Bull appeal

Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Gasly loses Monaco GP podium as penalties reinstated following McLaren and Red Bull appeal

Why McLaren thinks Norris is even better now than his F1 title-winning year

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
Why McLaren thinks Norris is even better now than his F1 title-winning year

Red Bull officially named F1's best engine as FIA makes ADUO results public

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
Red Bull officially named F1's best engine as FIA makes ADUO results public

What caused Verstappen’s F1 Dutch GP crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Dutch GP
What caused Verstappen’s F1 Dutch GP crash

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

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

How Buemi and Di Grassi defined Formula E’s Gen1 era

Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix I
How Buemi and Di Grassi defined Formula E’s Gen1 era

Budkowski replaces Lowdon as Cadillac F1 boss

Formula 1
Formula 1
Budkowski replaces Lowdon as Cadillac F1 boss

Why McLaren has struggled to get the most of Mercedes’ F1 engine

Formula 1
Formula 1
Why McLaren has struggled to get the most of Mercedes’ F1 engine

How Cadillac is ‘building its plane while flying in it’ in F1

Formula 1
Formula 1
How Cadillac is ‘building its plane while flying in it’ in F1

What would you like to ask David Malukas?

IndyCar
IndyCar
Markham
What would you like to ask David Malukas?

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

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

What is it like being a Williams F1 simulator driver?

Formula 1
Formula 1
What is it like being a Williams F1 simulator driver?

You Ask The Questions: Esteban Ocon

Formula 1
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

The challenge Haas faces in trying to meet F1 budget cap: "Fighting with both hands tied"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
The challenge Haas faces in trying to meet F1 budget cap: "Fighting with both hands tied"

How Pirelli will deal with F1’s unexpected return to Sepang

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
How Pirelli will deal with F1’s unexpected return to Sepang

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

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

How F1 2026 has been a season of two halves for Ferrari so far

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
How F1 2026 has been a season of two halves for Ferrari so far

Norris: I was better than Piastri in every sense in battle for Hungarian GP victory

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

How blue-flag malfunction caused chaos in F1 Hungarian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
How blue-flag malfunction caused chaos in F1 Hungarian GP