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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

Mercedes pulls out of Alpine F1 share talks over asking price

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Mercedes pulls out of Alpine F1 share talks over asking price

Why any 12th team project would face an uphill battle amid BYD rumours

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Why any 12th team project would face an uphill battle amid BYD rumours

Canada spectacle shows how F1 is walking regulation tightrope

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Canadian GP
Canada spectacle shows how F1 is walking regulation tightrope

Why McLaren will try rejected front wing again in Monaco

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Canadian GP
Why McLaren will try rejected front wing again in Monaco

Gucci becomes title partner of Alpine F1 team for 2027

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Canadian GP
Gucci becomes title partner of Alpine F1 team for 2027

Why Hamilton now has everything in the right place at Ferrari

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Canadian GP
Why Hamilton now has everything in the right place at Ferrari

Alpine continues quest to fix Gasly's mystifying car issues

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Canadian GP
Alpine continues quest to fix Gasly's mystifying car issues

Russell "lost for words" after heartbreaking Canadian GP exit

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Canadian GP
Russell "lost for words" after heartbreaking Canadian GP exit

F1 Canadian GP: Antonelli lands F1 2026 blow as Russell retires in Montreal

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Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP: Antonelli lands F1 2026 blow as Russell retires in Montreal

Russell suffers dramatic exit from F1 Canada GP

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Canadian GP
Russell suffers dramatic exit from F1 Canada GP

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

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

Antonelli and Russell clear the air after F1 Canadian GP sprint race clash

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Canadian GP
Antonelli and Russell clear the air after F1 Canadian GP sprint race clash

Verstappen reignites quit threats amid doubts over 2027 F1 rule changes

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Canadian GP
Verstappen reignites quit threats amid doubts over 2027 F1 rule changes

Update: Hamilton avoids Canadian GP grid penalty for impeding Gasly

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Canadian GP
Update: Hamilton avoids Canadian GP grid penalty for impeding Gasly

F1 Canadian GP: Russell beats Antonelli and Norris to last-gasp Montreal pole

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Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP: Russell beats Antonelli and Norris to last-gasp Montreal pole

Gloves off at Mercedes? Russell-Antonelli duel shows glimpse of F1 2026 battle

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Canadian GP
Gloves off at Mercedes? Russell-Antonelli duel shows glimpse of F1 2026 battle

Antonelli wants Mercedes "clarity" over Russell defence in Canada F1 sprint

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Canadian GP
Antonelli wants Mercedes "clarity" over Russell defence in Canada F1 sprint

McLaren finds ally in Red Bull over F1 team alliances concerns

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Canadian GP
McLaren finds ally in Red Bull over F1 team alliances concerns

F1 Canadian GP: Russell defeats Antonelli to Canada F1 sprint pole

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Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP: Russell defeats Antonelli to Canada F1 sprint pole

F1 compromise to make 2027 engine change could include shortening races

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Canadian GP
F1 compromise to make 2027 engine change could include shortening races

Mercedes and McLaren debut host of updates at F1 Canadian GP

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Canadian GP
Mercedes and McLaren debut host of updates at F1 Canadian GP

Haas warns against raising F1 cost cap to fix 2027 power unit issues

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Canadian GP
Haas warns against raising F1 cost cap to fix 2027 power unit issues

Piastri "flattered" by rumours of Red Bull F1 interest

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Canadian GP
Piastri "flattered" by rumours of Red Bull F1 interest

Why Sainz believes F1 and FIA must be "tough" on 2027 changes

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Canadian GP
Why Sainz believes F1 and FIA must be "tough" on 2027 changes

Why quirky Montreal will remain F1's true North American gem

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Canadian GP
Why quirky Montreal will remain F1's true North American gem

How GM tech accelerated Cadillac's F1 entry

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Canadian GP
How GM tech accelerated Cadillac's F1 entry

Will Mercedes or McLaren land the next punch at F1's Canadian GP?

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Canadian GP
Will Mercedes or McLaren land the next punch at F1's Canadian GP?

Former FIA aero chief officially joins Alpine in senior F1 role

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Former FIA aero chief officially joins Alpine in senior F1 role

The paradox of change as F1 2027 decision nears

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Canadian GP
The paradox of change as F1 2027 decision nears

"The most fun I've had all year" - Verstappen's F1 colleagues envy his Nurburgring bid

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"The most fun I've had all year" - Verstappen's F1 colleagues envy his Nurburgring bid

The underlying reasons why Russell won't be alarmed yet by Antonelli's start to F1 2026 

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Miami GP
The underlying reasons why Russell won't be alarmed yet by Antonelli's start to F1 2026 

"It's only going to get better" - How Audi is responding to rocky start to F1 2026

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Miami GP
"It's only going to get better" - How Audi is responding to rocky start to F1 2026

F1 working on contingency plans for Middle East races, as Q1 revenue surges

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F1 working on contingency plans for Middle East races, as Q1 revenue surges

Honda gets extra F1 power unit help after FIA tweaks rules

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Miami GP
Honda gets extra F1 power unit help after FIA tweaks rules

"We love V8s" - What F1 manufacturers think about future engine regulations

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Miami GP
"We love V8s" - What F1 manufacturers think about future engine regulations

'Antonelli and Sinner, Sinner and Antonelli' - Italy should handle its latest sporting hero with care

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Miami GP
'Antonelli and Sinner, Sinner and Antonelli' - Italy should handle its latest sporting hero with care

Why time is running out to make bigger F1 power unit changes for 2027

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Miami GP
Why time is running out to make bigger F1 power unit changes for 2027

Verstappen penalised for crossing pit exit but keeps fifth place at F1 Miami GP

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Miami GP
Verstappen penalised for crossing pit exit but keeps fifth place at F1 Miami GP

Leclerc handed huge Miami GP penalty after battle with Verstappen and Russell

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Miami GP
Leclerc handed huge Miami GP penalty after battle with Verstappen and Russell

Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell all summoned to stewards after F1 Miami GP

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Miami GP
Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell all summoned to stewards after F1 Miami GP

F1 Miami GP: Antonelli beats Norris for hard-fought win in chaotic race

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Miami GP
F1 Miami GP: Antonelli beats Norris for hard-fought win in chaotic race

Hadjar to be excluded from Miami GP qualifying over technical breach

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Miami GP
Hadjar to be excluded from Miami GP qualifying over technical breach

F1 brings Miami GP start time forward due to thunderstorm threat

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Miami GP
F1 brings Miami GP start time forward due to thunderstorm threat

F1 Miami GP: Antonelli holds off Verstappen for third straight pole

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Miami GP
F1 Miami GP: Antonelli holds off Verstappen for third straight pole

Has Mercedes already met its match? Miami F1's complicated form book explained

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Miami GP
Has Mercedes already met its match? Miami F1's complicated form book explained

F1 Miami GP: Norris beats Antonelli to sprint race pole with upgraded McLaren

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Miami GP
F1 Miami GP: Norris beats Antonelli to sprint race pole with upgraded McLaren

Bottas' mental health column is brutal, but also shows how F1 is changing

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Miami GP
Bottas' mental health column is brutal, but also shows how F1 is changing

Can Miami really be the start of a 'new' F1 season?

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Miami GP
Can Miami really be the start of a 'new' F1 season?

What's behind F1's long-term push to fill its 24-race calendar

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What's behind F1's long-term push to fill its 24-race calendar

Red Bull's F1 teams reshuffle their technical line-ups

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Red Bull's F1 teams reshuffle their technical line-ups

What has changed as FOM and FIA appear more aligned on F1's future?

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What has changed as FOM and FIA appear more aligned on F1's future?

Domenicali: F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year

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Domenicali: F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year

Racing Bulls suggest "continuous" roll-out of F1 2026 regulation tweaks

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Racing Bulls suggest "continuous" roll-out of F1 2026 regulation tweaks

F1 boss issues verdict on start of 2026 season, backs potential changes

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F1 boss issues verdict on start of 2026 season, backs potential changes

How every F1 2026 team has performed so far

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How every F1 2026 team has performed so far

FIA outlines decision timeline on F1 2026 tweaks

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FIA outlines decision timeline on F1 2026 tweaks

Red Bull confirms Lambiase exit for F1 2028

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Red Bull confirms Lambiase exit for F1 2028

Hill's standout memories from his 1996 F1 title-clinching race, 30 years on

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Japanese GP
Hill's standout memories from his 1996 F1 title-clinching race, 30 years on

Which teams will benefit and lose out the most from F1's enforced April break

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Bahrain GP
Which teams will benefit and lose out the most from F1's enforced April break

The most encouraging element from Leclerc's Japanese GP podium

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Bahrain GP
The most encouraging element from Leclerc's Japanese GP podium