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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

F1 Mexico GP: Antonelli becomes youngest world champion as Verstappen holds off Hamilton for victory

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Mexican GP
F1 Mexico GP: Antonelli becomes youngest world champion as Verstappen holds off Hamilton for victory

Ocon denies physical altercation rumours in first statement since being dropped by Haas for Mexico GP

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Mexican GP
Ocon denies physical altercation rumours in first statement since being dropped by Haas for Mexico GP

F1 Mexico GP: Hamilton takes pole from Russell and Leclerc

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Mexican GP
F1 Mexico GP: Hamilton takes pole from Russell and Leclerc

F1 Mexico GP: Norris tops final practice by 0.001s from Antonelli

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Mexican GP
F1 Mexico GP: Norris tops final practice by 0.001s from Antonelli

F1 stalwart Zehnder set for Audi exit

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Mexican GP
F1 stalwart Zehnder set for Audi exit

Why Sergio Perez shows vote of confidence in Cadillac despite mixed 2026 debut

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United States GP
Why Sergio Perez shows vote of confidence in Cadillac despite mixed 2026 debut

FIA announces new partnership to help drive future F1 regulations

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United States GP
FIA announces new partnership to help drive future F1 regulations

Mercedes has a Russell-sized problem and it is sharing responsibility

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United States GP
Mercedes has a Russell-sized problem and it is sharing responsibility

Why being "very adaptive" gave Norris the edge over Piastri at US GP

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United States GP
Why being "very adaptive" gave Norris the edge over Piastri at US GP

F1 United States GP: Antonelli dominates from pole - but forced to wait for title

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United States GP
F1 United States GP: Antonelli dominates from pole - but forced to wait for title

Inside COTA's Turn 1 clubhouse and its plans to build a second track

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United States GP
Inside COTA's Turn 1 clubhouse and its plans to build a second track

Antonelli pole shows Mercedes is 'finally seeing the results' of car upgrades

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United States GP
Antonelli pole shows Mercedes is 'finally seeing the results' of car upgrades

F1 United States GP: Antonelli beats Verstappen to pole with Russell only sixth

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United States GP
F1 United States GP: Antonelli beats Verstappen to pole with Russell only sixth

F1 United States GP: Ferrari completes perfect practice record as Hamilton tops FP3

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United States GP
F1 United States GP: Ferrari completes perfect practice record as Hamilton tops FP3

F1 United States GP: Leclerc pips Antonelli to top FP2 while McLaren struggles

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United States GP
F1 United States GP: Leclerc pips Antonelli to top FP2 while McLaren struggles

The reasons behind Ferrari's US GP upgrades

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United States GP
The reasons behind Ferrari's US GP upgrades

F1 United States GP: Leclerc beats Verstappen to top FP1 in upgraded Ferrari

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United States GP
F1 United States GP: Leclerc beats Verstappen to top FP1 in upgraded Ferrari

How Antonelli will manage the pressure as F1 coronation looms

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United States GP
How Antonelli will manage the pressure as F1 coronation looms

Sainz yet to be "convinced" that F1 2026 will finish in the Middle East

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United States GP
Sainz yet to be "convinced" that F1 2026 will finish in the Middle East

How Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

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United States GP
How Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

Norris promises to make "better decisions" following fresh talks over Singapore GP clash

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United States GP
Norris promises to make "better decisions" following fresh talks over Singapore GP clash

Inside the competition building F1’s future engineering talent

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Singapore GP
Inside the competition building F1’s future engineering talent

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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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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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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Former Mercedes F1 tech chief Elliott joins Alpine as CTO