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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

Alonso has "no idea" what he’ll do when he eventually retires from F1

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Formula 1
British GP
Alonso has "no idea" what he’ll do when he eventually retires from F1

Audi calls for F1 ADUO rethink amid exploit fears

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Formula 1
British GP
Audi calls for F1 ADUO rethink amid exploit fears

One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner

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British GP
One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner

Why Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now

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British GP
Why Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now

Why Vasseur doesn't want to talk about a Ferrari title fight

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British GP
Why Vasseur doesn't want to talk about a Ferrari title fight

F1 could move away from customer power units in 2031

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British GP
F1 could move away from customer power units in 2031

Wolff: I wish Abu Dhabi 2021 had been handled like the F1 British GP

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British GP
Wolff: I wish Abu Dhabi 2021 had been handled like the F1 British GP

Why Mercedes won't contest Antonelli's British GP track limits penalty

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British GP
Why Mercedes won't contest Antonelli's British GP track limits penalty

Hamilton keeps British GP podium after escaping yellow-flag sanction

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British GP
Hamilton keeps British GP podium after escaping yellow-flag sanction

F1 British GP: Leclerc shocks Mercedes with win as Antonelli hits trouble

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British GP
F1 British GP: Leclerc shocks Mercedes with win as Antonelli hits trouble

F1 to decide before summer break on recovering Middle Eastern race

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British GP
F1 to decide before summer break on recovering Middle Eastern race

F1 British GP: Antonelli takes pole position, Russell down in fourth

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British GP
F1 British GP: Antonelli takes pole position, Russell down in fourth

Horner to attend F1 British GP, set to launch memoir

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British GP
Horner to attend F1 British GP, set to launch memoir

Why gloves are now off between Ferrari and Mercedes amid Vasseur anger

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British GP
Why gloves are now off between Ferrari and Mercedes amid Vasseur anger

F1 British GP: Hamilton pips Antonelli to Silverstone sprint pole

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British GP
F1 British GP: Hamilton pips Antonelli to Silverstone sprint pole

What's behind Hamilton's Lego British GP drivers' parade concerns

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British GP
What's behind Hamilton's Lego British GP drivers' parade concerns

How "charging station" Silverstone will really look different in F1 2026

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British GP
How "charging station" Silverstone will really look different in F1 2026

Alonso: Silverstone will be "not fun to drive" with 2026 F1 cars

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British GP
Alonso: Silverstone will be "not fun to drive" with 2026 F1 cars

Why similar Williams and Aston Martin failures are oddly reassuring

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Austrian GP
Why similar Williams and Aston Martin failures are oddly reassuring

Five takeaways from Newey's revealing interview on Aston Martin’s F1 2026 woes

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Austrian GP
Five takeaways from Newey's revealing interview on Aston Martin’s F1 2026 woes

Newey hoping to keep Alonso at Aston Martin for F1 2027

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Austrian GP
Newey hoping to keep Alonso at Aston Martin for F1 2027

Verstappen dismisses talk of title challenge in F1 2026

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Austrian GP
Verstappen dismisses talk of title challenge in F1 2026

How Russell resorted to "abnormal" driving style to win F1 Austrian GP

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Austrian GP
How Russell resorted to "abnormal" driving style to win F1 Austrian GP

Hamilton and Leclerc confused by woeful Ferrari pace in Austrian GP

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Austrian GP
Hamilton and Leclerc confused by woeful Ferrari pace in Austrian GP

Verstappen on "odd" Austrian GP qualifying crash: "As I turned the wheel I was gone"

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Austrian GP
Verstappen on "odd" Austrian GP qualifying crash: "As I turned the wheel I was gone"

Why Russell escaped investigation for yellow flag on Austrian GP pole lap

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Austrian GP
Why Russell escaped investigation for yellow flag on Austrian GP pole lap

Former F1 chief Ecclestone backs push for V8 engines

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Austrian GP
Former F1 chief Ecclestone backs push for V8 engines

F1 Austrian GP: Russell beats Antonelli to top spot in final practice

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Austrian GP
F1 Austrian GP: Russell beats Antonelli to top spot in final practice

FIA bans Ferrari style exhaust wings in F1 2027

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Austrian GP
FIA bans Ferrari style exhaust wings in F1 2027

F1 Austrian GP: Antonelli pips Russell to top FP1, Norris hit with hydraulics issue

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Austrian GP
F1 Austrian GP: Antonelli pips Russell to top FP1, Norris hit with hydraulics issue

How worried should Ferrari’s F1 rivals be about its progress and engine upgrade?

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Austrian GP
How worried should Ferrari’s F1 rivals be about its progress and engine upgrade?

FIA abolishes presidential term limits

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Austrian GP
FIA abolishes presidential term limits

Why Honda will just use one of its two upgrade opportunities in F1 2026

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Austrian GP
Why Honda will just use one of its two upgrade opportunities in F1 2026

FIA declares Heat Hazard for F1 Austrian Grand Prix

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Austrian GP
FIA declares Heat Hazard for F1 Austrian Grand Prix

Why Hamilton's race engineer bond shows F1 is a people's sport first

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Austrian GP
Why Hamilton's race engineer bond shows F1 is a people's sport first

FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes

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Austrian GP
FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes

How Formula E’s F1-like calendar sees the two series converging – but also diverging

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How Formula E’s F1-like calendar sees the two series converging – but also diverging

Brands Hatch to make Formula E debut on expanded Gen4 calendar

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Brands Hatch to make Formula E debut on expanded Gen4 calendar

What happens next as appeal against Gasly's Monaco podium decision goes to court

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Austrian GP
What happens next as appeal against Gasly's Monaco podium decision goes to court

Hamilton demands action to tackle "ridiculous" cost of motorsport

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Hamilton demands action to tackle "ridiculous" cost of motorsport

Mercedes withdraws Russell Monaco GP penalty review request

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Monaco GP
Mercedes withdraws Russell Monaco GP penalty review request

Will Mercedes stop its drivers fighting now with Hamilton chasing?

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Will Mercedes stop its drivers fighting now with Hamilton chasing?

From overturned penalties to power unit rules, F1 can't stop itself from opening Pandora's box

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From overturned penalties to power unit rules, F1 can't stop itself from opening Pandora's box

How F1’s newest venue attempts to gel two extremes for the first time

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Spanish GP
How F1’s newest venue attempts to gel two extremes for the first time

F1 reports 35% CO2 reduction ahead of 2030 targets

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F1 reports 35% CO2 reduction ahead of 2030 targets

McLaren and Red Bull appeal against Gasly's Monaco GP podium reinstatement

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
McLaren and Red Bull appeal against Gasly's Monaco GP podium reinstatement

The title-winning characteristic McLaren has failed to replicate in F1 2026

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
The title-winning characteristic McLaren has failed to replicate in F1 2026

"Don't forget who you are" How Hamilton beat his demons to win with Ferrari

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
"Don't forget who you are" How Hamilton beat his demons to win with Ferrari

Why Vasseur believes Hamilton didn't need the VSC to win F1's Barcelona GP

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Why Vasseur believes Hamilton didn't need the VSC to win F1's Barcelona GP

Wolff's take on Hamilton's Ferrari resurgence: "Maybe the girlfriend helps"

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Wolff's take on Hamilton's Ferrari resurgence: "Maybe the girlfriend helps"

"You helped me achieve this dream" - Hamilton's emotional message after first Ferrari win

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
"You helped me achieve this dream" - Hamilton's emotional message after first Ferrari win

Piastri "perplexed" by Gasly’s Monaco reinstatement: "I could not believe my eyes"

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Piastri "perplexed" by Gasly’s Monaco reinstatement: "I could not believe my eyes"

Alonso 'exhausted' by Aston Martin woes after qualifying last in Barcelona

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Alonso 'exhausted' by Aston Martin woes after qualifying last in Barcelona

Mercedes weighs up legal options over Gasly Monaco F1 penalty precedent

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Mercedes weighs up legal options over Gasly Monaco F1 penalty precedent

McLaren, Red Bull lodge intention to appeal Gasly's Monaco penalty review win

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
McLaren, Red Bull lodge intention to appeal Gasly's Monaco penalty review win

F1 Barcelona GP: Russell tops first practice from Piastri

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
F1 Barcelona GP: Russell tops first practice from Piastri

F1 to review pitlane procedures after Gasly's Monaco GP podium reinstated

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
F1 to review pitlane procedures after Gasly's Monaco GP podium reinstated

Ferrari unleashes major F1 car upgrades as it chases down Mercedes at Barcelona GP

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Ferrari unleashes major F1 car upgrades as it chases down Mercedes at Barcelona GP

Gasly regains Monaco GP podium after FIA stewards rescind pitlane speeding penalties

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Gasly regains Monaco GP podium after FIA stewards rescind pitlane speeding penalties

How Russell aims to save his spiralling 2026 F1 season

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
How Russell aims to save his spiralling 2026 F1 season