Andrew Benson

United Kingdom

Chief F1 Writer at BBC Sport

BBC’s F1 correspondent. https://t.co/fAooXjkK3j An official @BBCSport account. https://t.co/LeBoIoFVN7

Articles

Bahrain Grand Prix 2025: 'The contrast between Norris & Piastri'

1 week ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Combining consistent speed with the mental solidity and racing decisiveness he has always shown makes Piastri a formidable rival who, psychologically at least, will be a tough nut to crack.
Man Utd: Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking at using Mercedes F1 expertise to improve data analysis

1 week ago | bbc.com | Simon Stone |Andrew Benson

Sir Jim Ratcliffe could use Ineos' Formula 1 involvement to help revolutionise Manchester United's data analysis. Amid a wide range of criticisms of United, Ratcliffe used an interview with the United We Stand fanzine to claim the club was "still in the last century of data analysis" and that it "doesn't really exist here". Although the club does spend significant amounts of money on data, Ratcliffe is determined to improve the situation.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2025: Piastri dominates with Russell second

1 week ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

McLaren's Oscar Piastri took a controlled, dominant victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix to close on team-mate Lando Norris in the world championship. The Australian was serene in the lead, calmly keeping himself out of reach of his rivals, as Mercedes' George Russell held off an assault from the second McLaren of Lando Norris for second.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2025: Lando Norris perplexed by performance

1 week ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Lando Norris said he felt "clueless" and "like I have never driven a Formula 1 car before" after qualifying sixth for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Briton's McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri took pole position, while Norris was 0.426 seconds slower than the Australian. Norris said: "No big complaints. The car's amazing. The car's as good as it has been all season, which is strong. "Just I've been off it all weekend. I don't know why. Just clueless on track at the minute. I don't know.
Bahrain GP 2025: Oscar Piastri on pole, George Russell second

1 week ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Piastri took his second career pole positionVenue: Sakhir Dates: 11-13 April Race start: 16:00 BST on SundayCoverage: Race live on BBC Radio 5 Live. Live text updates on the BBC Sport website and appMcLaren's Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix from Mercedes' George Russell with the second McLaren of Lando Norris down in sixth.
F1 bosses reject V10 engine return

1 week ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Formula 1 bosses have rejected a proposal to reintroduce V10 naturally aspirated engines in the near future. A meeting at the Bahrain Grand Prix between F1, governing body the FIA and the engine manufacturers agreed that the sport was committed to the revised hybrid engine rules that start next year.
Lando Norris fastest in Bahrain first practice

1 week ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

McLaren's Lando Norris set the pace in a largely unrepresentative first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Norris headed Alpine's Pierre Gasly by 0.238 seconds with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton third, 0.596secs slower than Norris, and Williams driver Alex Albon fourth. Albon narrowly avoided a collision with the other Williams of Luke Browning after a miscommunication when Browning was on a flying lap and came across Albon's car on the entry to Turn 12.
Formula 1: Carlos Sainz risks further fine for swearing in news conference

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Carlos Sainz has risked a further fine after swearing in an official news conference when discussing a punishment he was given at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Williams driver was fined €10,000 (£8,648), with half of it suspended, in Suzuka last weekend after turning up late for the playing of the national anthem on the grid. That was despite him explaining that he had experienced stomach issues that required a trip to the toilet.
Robert Reid: FIA deputy president for sport resigns over 'breakdown in governance standards'

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Robert Reid, deputy president for sport at the FIA, has resigned over what he describes as "a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport's global governing body". The Scot was a key member of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's leadership team when the Emirati was elected in 2021 but the pair have since fallen out amid a series of controversies surrounding the FIA president.
Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Andrew Benson

Verstappen led the two McLarens for the entire first stint, the three lapping closely together. There may be questions as to why McLaren pitted Piastri first, when it might have made sense to attack Verstappen with Norris with an earlier pit stop. Verstappen and Norris stopped on the same lap, one later than Piastri, and there was an immediate flashpoint. As they pitted, they were separated by just 1.5 seconds.