Ben Anderson
- None, Motorsport.com
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Ben Anderson
Race van mijn leven: Mika Hakkinen over de GP van Monaco 1998
Race: Grand Prix van Monaco 1998, Monte Carlo Auto: McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 "Voor mij was Monaco in 1998 absoluut de beste race. Fysiek en psychologisch draaide de hele race om millimeterwerk en details, op de auto letten en geen fouten maken. Elke ronde veranderde het circuit: we hadden gele vlaggen, olie op de baan... Er was de hele tijd wel iets en het vergde ongelooflijk veel concentratie. David [Coulthard, Hakkinen's McLaren-teamgenoot] en ik vochten in de kwalificatie voor pole-position.
Damon Hill over de GP van Japan 1994
Race: 1994 Japanse GP, Suzuka Auto: Williams-Renault FW16B "Gedurende zo'n carrière in de autosport, maak je veel spannende races mee, maar er zijn er maar weinig die dezelfde betekenis hebben als Suzuka in 1994 voor mij had. Met de dood van Roland Ratzenberger en Ayrton Senna was 1994 een zeer stressvol en dramatisch jaar, op alles leek veel meer een deken te liggen. Om in de strijd om het kampioenschap te blijven moest ik winnen.
Lewis Hamilton says he lost 'around three kilos' during French GP due to drinks bottle issue
Why Toto’s Blunt Pep Talk In France Was Exactly What Russell Needed When Toto Wolff comes on your team radio, it means one of only two things, ‘well done’ or ‘put your fucking foot down!’… just ask Valtteri …
Legend Jackie Stewart disagrees with claims over controversial Formula 1 finale
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said that he expects Mercedes to be strong at the French Grand Prix in a couple of weeks, with them …
GP de France - Programme TV et guide d'avant-course
C'est la 17e fois que la Formule 1 se rend au Castellet : le dernier Grand Prix en date fut celui de 2019, remporté par Lewis Hamilton. Voici tout ce qu'il faut savoir pour suivre cette épreuve. Horaires et programme TV du GP de France 2021 Pour le public français, il faudra compter comme depuis 2013 sur la diffusion de l'épreuve par Canal+, qui agence la programmation sur ses différentes chaînes.
Honda revela que su MGU-H... ¡solo puede durar dos carreras!
Jenson Button fue 9º en la clasificación de Montecarlo en su regreso a la F1 como sustituto de Fernando Alonso, pero perdió 15 posiciones para la parrilla por la sanción que supuso cambiar el turbocargador y el MGU-H de su motor después de los entrenamientos libres del jueves. Honda no tiene clara la causa exacta del problema, y su jefe en F1, Yusuke Hasegawa, habla de "rotación en la conducta" del MGU-H.
The Deja vu moment that reveals Bottas' true Hamilton deficit
Jul 21, 2020, 2:44 PM Making a winning start to the 2020 Formula 1 season, Valtteri Bottas now trails Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by five points following two emphatic victories for the Briton, hinting towards Bottas still being some way off being a title contender. Bottas departed the Hungaroring having conceded the lead of the Formula 1 world championship to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The big questions for F1 2020 2.0
Jul 2, 2020, 2:09 PM Formula 1 will finally get under way with back-to-back races in Austria, but the championship has been forced to make tough choices to ensure it can function responsibly while COVID-19 continues to ravage the planet.
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
But on the day of his first success, we've chosen to take a look back at one of his more remarkable victories that came a decade later. For Lauda's third Formula 1 title was one of the most incredible in the championship's history, and won by statistically the smallest margin - just half a point. In an interview conducted in 2017, Lauda talked Autosport through that season from his perspective.
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
For Lauda's third Formula 1 title was one of the most incredible in the championship's history, and won by statistically the smallest margin - just half a point. In an interview conducted in 2017, Lauda talked Autosport through that season from his perspective. Eight times the battle for the drivers' crown has been decided by a single digit - 1958, 1961, 1964, 1976, 1981, 1994, 2007 and 2008 - but only once has it been settled by less.
The two eras of dominance that defined a decade in F1
Dec 23, 2019, 10:55 AM In the first of a series of features looking back on the decade about to conclude, we assess the two drivers that have dominated Formula 1 since 2010 - Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton – and savour the promise of a battle that never came Two drivers have dominated the past decade of Formula 1, in two distinct periods.
How Ferrari threw away another golden victory chance
The mood in Ferrari's camp after Friday practice at Suzuka was somewhat downbeat. Having finished 0.356 seconds off the pace, in a session that doubled up as a back-up for qualifying due to Typhoon Hagibis forcing cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix's Saturday running, Charles Leclerc – Ferrari's form man since the August break – declared Ferrari to be lacking grip, saying his deficit to the Silver Arrows was "more or less the real picture of the weekend".
Japanese Grand Prix driver ratings
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 celebrates on the podium with the trophy Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images Hamilton admits Suzuka is not one of his better circuits and he trailed Bottas through practice and qualifying. He was by far the quickest driver/car combo in the race, and insisted Mercedes' strategy cost him second to Vettel, but getting boxed in on lap one after a so-so qualifying did the damage. Verdict: Drove well in the race, but gave himself too much work to do.
Vettel on top at Suzuka, scores Ferrari's fifth straight 2019 pole
Vettel takes Suzuka pole, Ferrari's fifth straight Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position with a commanding performance in qualifying for Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix, as Ferrari overturned Mercedes' practice pace advantage to lock out the front row. Vettel led the way throughout Q3 at Suzuka, setting a 1m27.2s lap on his first run and improving to a 1m27.0s best on his final run to claim his first pole since June's Canadian Grand Prix.
No penalties for "stupid" Japanese GP collision between Gasly/Perez
No penalties for Japanese Grand Prix stewards have ruled there should be no penalties for Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly's collision at the end of the Suzuka Formula 1 race. Perez's Racing Point was tapped into a spin by Gasly and came to a rest in the barriers on what was supposed to be the final lap of the race, after Perez had tried to pass the Toro Rosso for eighth place round the outside of Turn 2.
Japanese GP: Bottas tops FP2 session that could decide grid
Bottas was preparing to start the first flying lap of his qualifying simulation runs when he looped his W10 through the kink that follows the final chicane. He continued but could only lap just under half a second down on Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, who set the pace on those first qualifying simulation runs despite having his own effort interrupted by Bottas' spin.
British GP: Bottas leads Mercedes 1-2 in close FP2
Bottas set a searing pace in the early part of the session, almost eight tenths clear of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which was initially next fastest on the medium compound Pirelli tyre. Hamilton was 1.225s down on Bottas on that tyre, after a run that included a brief off-track moment at high speed. But Bottas struggled to beat his own benchmark after bolting on the softest compound.
British GP: Bottas leads Mercedes 1-2 in close FP2
Bottas set a searing pace in the early part of the session, almost eight tenths clear of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which was initially next fastest on the medium compound Pirelli tyre. Hamilton was 1.225s down on Bottas on that tyre, after a run that included a brief off-track moment at high speed. But Bottas struggled to beat his own benchmark after bolting on the softest compound.
Absolute racing rules force drivers into bad choices
Jun 18, 2019, 8:04 AM Track limits has become a regular rule to debate in recent years, from Formula 1 and the pinnacle of motorsport, down to National level racing. But does a strict approach actually make things less safe for some drivers? We've all been there - happily driving along the motorway, minding our own business, when some dimwit casually changes lanes without looking.
Kubica "a passenger" until Williams improves car
Kubica has battled handling difficulties with his F1 car since the season-opening Australian GP, where he struck a kerb in first practice and damaged the floor. Williams data suggested Kubica’s repaired car was displaying different aerodynamic behaviour despite running the same set-up as rookie teammate George Russell in Bahrain. After a strong opening stint in the race, in which he got ahead of his teammate, Kubica’s pace fell away badly in the second half as his tyres degraded.
Kubica "a passenger" until Williams improves car
Kubica has battled handling difficulties with his F1 car since the season-opening Australian GP, where he struck a kerb in first practice and damaged the floor. Williams data suggested Kubica’s repaired car was displaying different aerodynamic behaviour despite running the same set-up as rookie teammate George Russell in Bahrain. After a strong opening stint in the race, in which he got ahead of his teammate, Kubica’s pace fell away badly in the second half as his tyres degraded.
Vettel: Spin battling Hamilton "nothing to do with pressure"
Vettel had made several costly errors as Ferrari’s 2018 Formula 1 championship challenge unravelled. He spun again while fighting Hamilton for second in Bahrain on Sunday, losing control as he tried to cut back underneath Hamilton’s Mercedes at Turn 4, having been overtaken around the outside. Vettel flat-spotted his tyres so badly the resulting vibrations shattered his front wing as he tried to make it back to the pits.
Hamilton: Passing Leclerc's Ferrari for Bahrain GP win 'felt weird'
Hamilton's surprise Bahrain GP win 'felt weird' Mercedes Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton said it "felt weird" to pass the hobbled Ferrari of Charles Leclerc for an unlikely victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Leclerc looked well on course for his first grand prix win as he was managing his gap over Hamilton in the closing stages of the race, only for his Ferrari to develop an MGU-H problem. The Monegasque slowed dramatically and Hamilton made quick work of what was an initial nine-second gap.
Bahrain GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 as Ferrari implodes
Leclerc recovered from a poor first lap to dominate the race, before an MGU-H failure robbed his engine of power and left him limping to the finish. Hamilton's Mercedes closed rapidly on the ailing Ferrari and claimed the lead on the run to the final corner with just 10 laps to go. Leclerc continued to lose significant pace as the closing stages of the race played out, eventually finishing a bitterly disappointing third but at least claiming a bonus point for fastest lap.
Bahrain GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 as Ferrari implodes
Leclerc recovered from a poor first lap to dominate the race, before an MGU-H failure robbed his engine of power and left him limping to the finish. Hamilton's Mercedes closed rapidly on the ailing Ferrari and claimed the lead on the run to the final corner with just 10 laps to go. Leclerc continued to lose significant pace as the closing stages of the race played out, eventually finishing a bitterly disappointing third but at least claiming a bonus point for fastest lap.
Kubica says gap to Russell in Bahrain misleading
Kubica qualified less than a tenth behind Russell in Bahrain, after being more than 1.7s off in Australia. Kubica said after Friday practice he felt he was driving a "different car" to his teammate in Bahrain, despite the fact they are meant to be identical, and suggested the fact there was less than a tenth between them in Q1 was misleading. "There were a few issues in qualifying which we have to go through." Kubica said.
Kubica says gap to Russell in Bahrain misleading
Kubica qualified less than a tenth behind Russell in Bahrain, after being more than 1.7s off in Australia. Kubica said after Friday practice he felt he was driving a "different car" to his teammate in Bahrain, despite the fact they are meant to be identical, and suggested the fact there was less than a tenth between them in Q1 was misleading. "There were a few issues in qualifying which we have to go through." Kubica said.
Vettel: Spin battling Hamilton "nothing to do with pressure"
Vettel had made several costly errors as Ferrari’s 2018 Formula 1 championship challenge unravelled. He spun again while fighting Hamilton for second in Bahrain on Sunday, losing control as he tried to cut back underneath Hamilton’s Mercedes at Turn 4, having been overtaken around the outside. Vettel flat-spotted his tyres so badly the resulting vibrations shattered his front wing as he tried to make it back to the pits.
Vettel explains loss of crucial set of F1 tyres for Bahrain GP Q3
Vettel explains loss of crucial set of Q3 tyres Sebastian Vettel says a "hectic" Q2 when Ferrari put him in an "unfortunate slot" on the track compromised his Q3 running in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Vettel was forced to make a second run in Q2 to guarantee progression to the final part of qualifying, which left him with only enough new soft tyres for a single run in the crucial Q3 segment of the session.
Vettel, Leclerc "need to work as team" at start in Bahrain
Leclerc beat his four-time world champion teammate by almost three tenths of a second in qualifying at the Sakhir circuit to claim his maiden pole position in F1. Ferrari suggested pre-season it would favour Vettel in the world championship and issued a team order for its drivers to hold position in fourth and fifth in the final stages of the Australian GP.
Bahrain GP: Leclerc tops FP3 as Ferrari sweeps practice
Ferrari did its soft-tyre qualifying simulation runs earlier than its main rivals, and having been gradually shuffled back after initially leading the way, Leclerc and Vettel rose back to the top of the timesheet by setting the only laps of the session below 1m30s. Leclerc's 1m29.569s effort was the best of the session, leaving him 0.169s clear of Vettel.
Tost: B-team complainers "haven't done their homework"
McLaren, Renault and Williams have been vocal critics of the situation concerning so-called 'listed parts' in F1, which allows significant portions of cars to be purchased from rival constructors instead of being designed by the team using them. "The way the sport has grown has enabled teams to be able to do business, if you like, with other teams and we'd like to see the sport come back to more of a purity of a constructor," said McLaren boss Zak Brown.
Bahrain GP: Leclerc leads dominant Ferrari 1-2 in FP1
Charles Leclerc set a best lap of 1m30.354s to lead the way in the blistering daytime heat, 0.263 seconds clear of Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari one-two. Melbourne race winner Valtteri Bottas was third fastest, 0.974s down on Vettel, while Lewis Hamilton was more than 1.2s off the pace in fourth. It looked as though Mercedes was in terrific shape in the early part of the session, as Bottas and Hamilton both used medium tyres to lap quicker than the soft-tyred Ferraris initially.
Bahrain GP: Leclerc tops FP3 as Ferrari sweeps practice
Ferrari did its soft-tyre qualifying simulation runs earlier than its main rivals, and having been gradually shuffled back after initially leading the way, Leclerc and Vettel rose back to the top of the timesheet by setting the only laps of the session below 1m30s. Leclerc's 1m29.569s effort was the best of the session, leaving him 0.169s clear of Vettel.
Vettel, Leclerc "need to work as team" at start in Bahrain
Leclerc beat his four-time world champion teammate by almost three tenths of a second in qualifying at the Sakhir circuit to claim his maiden pole position in F1. Ferrari suggested pre-season it would favour Vettel in the world championship and issued a team order for its drivers to hold position in fourth and fifth in the final stages of the Australian GP.
Perez: Stroll has stronger race pace than Ocon, Hulkenberg
Stroll enjoyed a strong debut for his new team in Australia, recovering from being knocked out in Q1 to score two points for ninth place, while Perez made Q3 but slipped to 13th in the race.
Bahrain GP: Leclerc leads dominant Ferrari 1-2 in FP1
Charles Leclerc set a best lap of 1m30.354s to lead the way in the blistering daytime heat, 0.263 seconds clear of Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari one-two. Melbourne race winner Valtteri Bottas was third fastest, 0.974s down on Vettel, while Lewis Hamilton was more than 1.2s off the pace in fourth. It looked as though Mercedes was in terrific shape in the early part of the session, as Bottas and Hamilton both used medium tyres to lap quicker than the soft-tyred Ferraris initially.
Tost: B-team complainers "haven't done their homework"
McLaren, Renault and Williams have been vocal critics of the situation concerning so-called 'listed parts' in F1, which allows significant portions of cars to be purchased from rival constructors instead of being designed by the team using them. "The way the sport has grown has enabled teams to be able to do business, if you like, with other teams and we'd like to see the sport come back to more of a purity of a constructor," said McLaren boss Zak Brown.
Perez: Stroll has stronger race pace than Ocon, Hulkenberg
Stroll enjoyed a strong debut for his new team in Australia, recovering from being knocked out in Q1 to score two points for ninth place, while Perez made Q3 but slipped to 13th in the race.
Will Brexit break Formula 1?
The 23rd of June, 2016, is the day everything changed in Britain, the result of the EU referendum kick-starting a monumental political shift unprecedented since the Second World War. In March 2019, Brexit will finally happen (we think), and the United Kingdom will never be the same again.
The five keys to Hamilton’s genius
Now he's smoked Sebastian Vettel in two consecutive title fights Lewis Hamilton has staked his claim to be known as his generation’s greatest grand prix driver. Ben Anderson asks, what is it that makes him this era’s best of the best?
Track test: Jaguar’s new electric street racer
From late 2018, the Jaguar I-Pace eTROPHY will be the support series for the FIA Formula E championship. But before the cars head off to Saudi Arabia for round one, F1 Racing editor Ben Anderson tried one for size at Rockingham.
Track test: Jaguar’s new electric street racer
From late 2018, the Jaguar I-Pace eTROPHY will be the support series for the FIA Formula E championship. But before the cars head off to Saudi Arabia for round one, F1 Racing editor Ben Anderson tried one for size at Rockingham.
Why F1 fears the changes that can save it
Formula 1 is so wonderful for those of us invested in it: a compelling concoction of high-speed complexity and adrenaline-filled competition. We 'insiders' hang on its every twist and turn. But step outside the echo chamber for a second and all is not well. Fernando Alonso is right - F1 is too predictable. Far too often, to the untrained eye and mind, it is simply boring to watch.
Why Red Bull thinks Marc Marquez could make it in F1
Marc Marquez is doing his best to look relaxed, but behind the cool façade there must be butterflies in his stomach. And well he might be nervous - Marquez is a four-time MotoGP champion, but he's never properly driven a racing car on a circuit before, and his first proper experience of it will be in Formula 1 machinery.
Engine not to blame for Ricciardo's retirement
Ricciardo had just passed Sergey Sirotkin's Williams for 11th place, having worked his way up from a back-row start at Monza, when he was forced to pull off the circuit with smoke pouring out of his Red Bull. The Australian driver had Renault's new Spec C engine fitted ahead of the weekend, which the French manufacturer said would be worth three tenths of a second in laptime but carried a reliability risk.
Verstappen: Upgraded Renault still "over a second off"
Red Bull bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko praised Renault’s latest engine development after trials in Daniel Ricciardo’s car on Friday, and the new unit was fitted to Verstappen’s car too for final practice and qualifying. Verstappen qualified fifth for Sunday’s race at Monza, but was 1.496 seconds off the pace set by Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari in Q3 and just over three tenths clear of Romain Grosjean’s Haas, despite the extra power.
Grosjean: Ferrari hope never a factor in Haas move
The American team’s close ties with the Scuderia, through a deal to take engines and as many chassis parts as permitted by F1’s rules, was a major element in attracting Grosjean to the project, and there were suggestions he could also seek to use it as a base to engineer a subsequent move to Ferrari should Kimi Raikkonen leave the team.
Formula 1 needs McLaren back from "turmoil" - Horner
McLaren is F1's second most successful team in terms of race wins and championships, behind only Ferrari, but hasn't scored a podium since the first race of 2014, hasn't won a race since 2012, and hasn't won a title since 2008. After three disastrous seasons with works Honda power, McLaren switched to Renault customer engines for 2018 but has languished well off the pace of Red Bull, which has won three races with the same engine.
Understanding what really makes Fernando Alonso tick
Who is Fernando Alonso? He is a double Formula 1 world champion, of course; a Spanish sporting idol, undoubtedly; and he is one of the very best racing drivers of his generation, arguably.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Ben
Contact Ben, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack