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Filip Cleeren
Author

Filip Cleeren

After concluding his journalism studies Filip decided to jump in at the deep end and become a freelance motorsports writer, which took him on a nomadic 50-country journey from Indianapolis to Le Mans and from Melbourne's Albert Park to the Dakar in Argentina. Born and raised in Belgium and now settled in sunny Barcelona, Spain, Filip first joined Motorsport.com in 2015 to help establish the Dutch edition before transitioning to the English-language team. In 2023 he became one of Motorsport Network's main F1 correspondents, with the 2026 season his fourth year on the ground at the majority of grands prix. Being Flemish, when he's not covering F1, he can likely be found watching the cycling instead, and he also has a soft spot for Southampton FC and the Toronto Blue Jays. Don't ask!

Latest articles by Filip Cleeren

Rwanda turns to F1 as it moves forward from a chequered past

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Rwanda turns to F1 as it moves forward from a chequered past

Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda

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Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda

F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix

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F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix

Ferrari explains Hamilton’s failed Singapore GP gamble

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Singapore GP
Ferrari explains Hamilton’s failed Singapore GP gamble

Why McLaren considers Norris-Piastri Singapore clash so “serious”

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Singapore GP
Why McLaren considers Norris-Piastri Singapore clash so “serious”

McLaren to talk internally after "simply not acceptable" Norris-Piastri clash

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Singapore GP
McLaren to talk internally after "simply not acceptable" Norris-Piastri clash

Singapore sprint qualifying chaos leaves F1 teams furious

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Singapore GP
Singapore sprint qualifying chaos leaves F1 teams furious

"It should be banned" - F1 drivers still divided over cooling vests

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Singapore GP
"It should be banned" - F1 drivers still divided over cooling vests

Why "crazy" power unit success is so meaningful for Red Bull - and for F1

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Singapore GP
Why "crazy" power unit success is so meaningful for Red Bull - and for F1

McLaren targets Norris’ costly fuel system issue with Singapore F1 power unit fixes

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Singapore GP
McLaren targets Norris’ costly fuel system issue with Singapore F1 power unit fixes

The dire consequence of Russell's Bahrain GP in Malaysia retirement

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
The dire consequence of Russell's Bahrain GP in Malaysia retirement

Honda HRC to get new boss with Watanabe set to retire

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Honda HRC to get new boss with Watanabe set to retire

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

"The FIA needs to step in" - Russell's cooling vest comments explained

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
"The FIA needs to step in" - Russell's cooling vest comments explained

How Bahrain transplanted its F1 paddock onto Malaysia

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
How Bahrain transplanted its F1 paddock onto Malaysia

Vasseur calls for Ferrari unity: Pointing fingers would be "big mistake"

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Vasseur calls for Ferrari unity: Pointing fingers would be "big mistake"

Colapinto handed extra grid penalty at F1 Bahrain GP

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Colapinto handed extra grid penalty at F1 Bahrain GP

The unpredictability to expect for F1's one-off return to Sepang in 2026

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
The unpredictability to expect for F1's one-off return to Sepang in 2026

Why Norris apologised to Colapinto after Baku comments

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Why Norris apologised to Colapinto after Baku comments

Hamilton strongly backs Vasseur amid Horner to Ferrari links

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Hamilton strongly backs Vasseur amid Horner to Ferrari links

As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?

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Azerbaijan GP
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?

Azerbaijan GP was a step forward for upgraded Williams - but real test is still to come

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Azerbaijan GP
Azerbaijan GP was a step forward for upgraded Williams - but real test is still to come

Norris apologises to Colapinto over F1 race ban comments

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Azerbaijan GP
Norris apologises to Colapinto over F1 race ban comments

Why McLaren was so much slower than Mercedes on Baku's straights

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Azerbaijan GP
Why McLaren was so much slower than Mercedes on Baku's straights

Briatore to reflect on necessary action after Colapinto's "poor" Baku blunder

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Azerbaijan GP
Briatore to reflect on necessary action after Colapinto's "poor" Baku blunder

Norris demands ban for Colapinto after Azerbaijan GP crash

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Azerbaijan GP
Norris demands ban for Colapinto after Azerbaijan GP crash

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell fends off Verstappen for victory; Colapinto takes out Gasly and Norris

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell fends off Verstappen for victory; Colapinto takes out Gasly and Norris

Antonelli angry at "unnecessary" Azerbaijan GP qualifying crash

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

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell dominates to pole after Antonelli crashes out in qualifying

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell dominates to pole after Antonelli crashes out in qualifying

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Verstappen beats Russell and Hamilton to top FP3

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Verstappen beats Russell and Hamilton to top FP3

Cadillac makes three major tech hires including former Red Bull design chief

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Azerbaijan GP
Cadillac makes three major tech hires including former Red Bull design chief

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell tops FP2 from Antonelli as Lindblad crashes

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell tops FP2 from Antonelli as Lindblad crashes

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell fastest in first practice as Antonelli's Mercedes breaks down

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell fastest in first practice as Antonelli's Mercedes breaks down

Hadjar to partner Verstappen at Red Bull for F1 2027

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Azerbaijan GP
Hadjar to partner Verstappen at Red Bull for F1 2027

How Antonelli's luxury problem is causing Wolff and Mercedes grey hairs

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Spanish GP
How Antonelli's luxury problem is causing Wolff and Mercedes grey hairs

What's behind the talks between the FIA president and Alonso over ADUO?

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What's behind the talks between the FIA president and Alonso over ADUO?

Former Mercedes F1 tech chief Elliott joins Alpine as CTO

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Spanish GP
Former Mercedes F1 tech chief Elliott joins Alpine as CTO

Why F1's Madring debut was a wasted opportunity

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Spanish GP
Why F1's Madring debut was a wasted opportunity

Bruising F1 2026 will not be the end for Russell - Wolff

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Spanish GP
Bruising F1 2026 will not be the end for Russell - Wolff

F1 reveals 2027 calendar as Monaco joins expanded sprint schedule

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F1 reveals 2027 calendar as Monaco joins expanded sprint schedule

Russell and Hamilton concede F1 2026 title chances as Antonelli dominates

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Spanish GP
Russell and Hamilton concede F1 2026 title chances as Antonelli dominates

Spanish GP organisers promise Madring track changes following F1 criticism

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Spanish GP
Spanish GP organisers promise Madring track changes following F1 criticism

Honda replaces F1 power unit boss in organisation shuffle

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Spanish GP
Honda replaces F1 power unit boss in organisation shuffle

F1 Spanish GP: Norris snatches last-gasp pole from Antonelli

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Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Norris snatches last-gasp pole from Antonelli

F1 Spanish GP: Antonelli tops FP3 after Hamilton and Bearman cause red flags

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Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Antonelli tops FP3 after Hamilton and Bearman cause red flags

From "very high risk" to the "best race in Europe" - F1 drivers share first Madring impressions

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Spanish GP
From "very high risk" to the "best race in Europe" - F1 drivers share first Madring impressions

F1 Spanish GP: Antonelli leads tricky second practice as Lindblad crashes

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Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Antonelli leads tricky second practice as Lindblad crashes

What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off

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Spanish GP
What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off

What the drivers think of the "crazy" Madrid F1 circuit

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Spanish GP
What the drivers think of the "crazy" Madrid F1 circuit

McLaren drops H-wing concept for F1 Spanish GP

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Spanish GP
McLaren drops H-wing concept for F1 Spanish GP

Audi commits to appeal against Tsunoda's Italian GP result

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Italian GP
Audi commits to appeal against Tsunoda's Italian GP result

Hamilton and Vasseur recall GP2 title and 'most impressive race ever', 20 years on

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Italian GP
Hamilton and Vasseur recall GP2 title and 'most impressive race ever', 20 years on

What to expect with Madrid set to make F1 return

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Spanish GP
What to expect with Madrid set to make F1 return

Hadjar to miss third F1 race due to injury

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Spanish GP
Hadjar to miss third F1 race due to injury

How Monza introduced oval-like slipstream racing to F1

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Italian GP
How Monza introduced oval-like slipstream racing to F1

Audi signals appeal over Tsunoda’s Italian GP non-penalty

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Italian GP
Audi signals appeal over Tsunoda’s Italian GP non-penalty

F1 Italian GP: Antonelli stuns from 19th on the grid to win home race

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Italian GP
F1 Italian GP: Antonelli stuns from 19th on the grid to win home race

Huge crash knocks Leclerc out of F1 Italian GP

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Italian GP
Huge crash knocks Leclerc out of F1 Italian GP

F1 Italian GP: Gasly takes stunning maiden pole for Alpine

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F1 Italian GP: Gasly takes stunning maiden pole for Alpine