Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
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

Why progress 'won't satisfy' Red Bull until it can give Verstappen a winning car

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Why progress 'won't satisfy' Red Bull until it can give Verstappen a winning car

McLaren leaves Mercedes impressed after dominant Hungary win

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungaroring Pirelli test
McLaren leaves Mercedes impressed after dominant Hungary win

The shocking aspect to Antonelli's rapid F1 title-contending transformation

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
The shocking aspect to Antonelli's rapid F1 title-contending transformation

Is McLaren now a legitimate threat to Mercedes and Ferrari in F1 2026?

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Is McLaren now a legitimate threat to Mercedes and Ferrari in F1 2026?

Red Bull appoints Lagrue as junior driver chief after Mercedes F1 exit

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Red Bull appoints Lagrue as junior driver chief after Mercedes F1 exit

What McLaren thought of Piastri's explosive F1 Hungarian GP radio outburst

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
What McLaren thought of Piastri's explosive F1 Hungarian GP radio outburst

Piastri slams "unacceptable" Sainz blue-flag incident, accepts McLaren strategy in Hungarian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Piastri slams "unacceptable" Sainz blue-flag incident, accepts McLaren strategy in Hungarian GP

F1 Hungarian GP: Norris wins from Verstappen and Antonelli, Piastri retires with gearbox failure

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Norris wins from Verstappen and Antonelli, Piastri retires with gearbox failure

Antonelli hit with grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Antonelli hit with grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Hamilton slapped with grid drop for impeding Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Hamilton slapped with grid drop for impeding Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop

Antonelli risks grid drop as stewards launch Hungarian GP qualifying investigation

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Antonelli risks grid drop as stewards launch Hungarian GP qualifying investigation

F1 Hungarian GP: Norris trumps Hamilton to pole by 0.012s, Verstappen spins

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Norris trumps Hamilton to pole by 0.012s, Verstappen spins

F1 Hungarian GP: Norris beats Hamilton to top final practice

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Norris beats Hamilton to top final practice

F1 Hungarian GP: Hamilton leads Ferrari 1-2 in FP2, Colapinto crashes for Alpine

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Hamilton leads Ferrari 1-2 in FP2, Colapinto crashes for Alpine

F1 Hungarian GP: Leclerc tops FP1, Stroll suffers suspected suspension failure with upgraded Aston Martin

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Leclerc tops FP1, Stroll suffers suspected suspension failure with upgraded Aston Martin

Malaysia weighs up F1 2026 round as rescheduled Bahrain GP plan fades

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Malaysia weighs up F1 2026 round as rescheduled Bahrain GP plan fades

‘If you're not ready to adapt, you're not good enough’ - Norris addresses changing driving styles in F1 2026

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
‘If you're not ready to adapt, you're not good enough’ - Norris addresses changing driving styles in F1 2026

What Alonso needs from Aston Martin and F1 as career decision looms

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
What Alonso needs from Aston Martin and F1 as career decision looms

Why nationality should be 'no factor' as Haas considers Fornaroli and Camara for F1 2027

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Why nationality should be 'no factor' as Haas considers Fornaroli and Camara for F1 2027

McLaren to finally trial 'Macarena-style' rear wing in Hungarian GP practice

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
McLaren to finally trial 'Macarena-style' rear wing in Hungarian GP practice

The key factor as Alonso weighs up F1 future

Formula 1
Formula 1
The key factor as Alonso weighs up F1 future

Mercedes "struggling to understand" Russell's deployment issues in F1 2026

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Mercedes "struggling to understand" Russell's deployment issues in F1 2026

Hamilton keeps F1 Belgian GP fourth-place finish as mechanic escapes unhurt

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Hamilton keeps F1 Belgian GP fourth-place finish as mechanic escapes unhurt

Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" penalty for Hamilton in F1 Belgian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" penalty for Hamilton in F1 Belgian GP

Russell slams "dangerous" battery issue before Hamilton Belgian GP clash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Russell slams "dangerous" battery issue before Hamilton Belgian GP clash

Why F1 drivers are being beaten by their own power units

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Why F1 drivers are being beaten by their own power units

Hamilton: Ferrari F1 car "didn't feel the same" after Belgian GP practice crash

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Hamilton: Ferrari F1 car "didn't feel the same" after Belgian GP practice crash

Mercedes working to resolve “serious issue” behind Russell’s deficit to Antonelli

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Mercedes working to resolve “serious issue” behind Russell’s deficit to Antonelli

Explained: The yellow flag error that caught Leclerc out in Belgian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Explained: The yellow flag error that caught Leclerc out in Belgian GP qualifying

Verstappen: I wouldn't be on Belgian GP front row without Hadjar tow

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Verstappen: I wouldn't be on Belgian GP front row without Hadjar tow

How Racing Bulls let a driver battle decide who got its F1 car cooling upgrade for Belgian GP

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
How Racing Bulls let a driver battle decide who got its F1 car cooling upgrade for Belgian GP

Hadjar set for Belgian GP grid penalty after F1 engine change

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Hadjar set for Belgian GP grid penalty after F1 engine change

Red Bull parks 'Macarena' rear wing for Belgian GP after Verstappen crashes

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Red Bull parks 'Macarena' rear wing for Belgian GP after Verstappen crashes

Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts

Why F1's future engine rules offer new opportunities but also new pitfalls

Formula 1
Formula 1
Belgian GP
Why F1's future engine rules offer new opportunities but also new pitfalls

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

Formula 1
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

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

One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Why Vasseur doesn't want to talk about a Ferrari title fight

F1 could move away from customer power units in 2031

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Why Mercedes won't contest Antonelli's British GP track limits penalty

Hamilton keeps British GP podium after escaping yellow-flag sanction

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Hamilton keeps British GP podium after escaping yellow-flag sanction

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
F1 to decide before summer break on recovering Middle Eastern race

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
F1 British GP: Antonelli takes pole position, Russell down in fourth

Horner to attend F1 British GP, set to launch memoir

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Horner to attend F1 British GP, set to launch memoir

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Why gloves are now off between Ferrari and Mercedes amid Vasseur anger

F1 British GP: Hamilton pips Antonelli to Silverstone sprint pole

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
F1 British GP: Hamilton pips Antonelli to Silverstone sprint pole

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
What's behind Hamilton's Lego British GP drivers' parade concerns

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Alonso: Silverstone will be "not fun to drive" with 2026 F1 cars

Why similar Williams and Aston Martin failures are oddly reassuring

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Newey hoping to keep Alonso at Aston Martin for F1 2027

Verstappen dismisses talk of title challenge in F1 2026

Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Verstappen dismisses talk of title challenge in F1 2026

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

Formula 1
Formula 1
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

Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Hamilton and Leclerc confused by woeful Ferrari pace in Austrian GP