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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 you're likely to catch him watching pro cycling instead, but he also has a soft spot for Southampton FC and the Toronto Blue Jays. Don't ask!

Latest articles by Filip Cleeren

Interview - The life and racing lessons Allan McNish learned from Ayrton Senna and Audi

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Interview - The life and racing lessons Allan McNish learned from Ayrton Senna and Audi

The subtle but significant changes McLaren will make for its 2027 F1 car

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The subtle but significant changes McLaren will make for its 2027 F1 car

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Red Bull stumbles but summer rally shows glimmer of progress

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Red Bull stumbles but summer rally shows glimmer of progress

Why McLaren feels the best drivers can still make a difference under F1 2026 rules

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Why McLaren feels the best drivers can still make a difference under F1 2026 rules

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Racing Bulls stuns midfield pack 

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Racing Bulls stuns midfield pack 

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Alpine makes great strides but struggles to maintain momentum

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Alpine makes great strides but struggles to maintain momentum

McLaren trying to understand Ferrari's 'inspirational' upgrade volume

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Dutch GP
McLaren trying to understand Ferrari's 'inspirational' upgrade volume

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Haas gets left behind after strong start

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Haas gets left behind after strong start

McLaren "disappointed" not to pick up rotating rear wing as quickly as Ferrari

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Hungarian GP
McLaren "disappointed" not to pick up rotating rear wing as quickly as Ferrari

Why McLaren won't turn off its 2026 F1 car development just yet

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Why McLaren won't turn off its 2026 F1 car development just yet

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Audi gets off to solid start on works debut

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Audi gets off to solid start on works debut

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Williams takes shocking step backwards

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Williams takes shocking step backwards

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Aston Martin seeks redemption after shocking start

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Aston Martin seeks redemption after shocking start

F1 2026 mid-season grades: Cadillac gets off to respectable start on its adventure

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F1 2026 mid-season grades: Cadillac gets off to respectable start on its adventure

The novelty of Cadillac is starting to wear off - but that's a compliment

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The novelty of Cadillac is starting to wear off - but that's a compliment

Max Verstappen gives future update going into F1 summer break: "Of course I can easily stop, but I love racing"

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Hungarian GP
Max Verstappen gives future update going into F1 summer break: "Of course I can easily stop, but I love racing"

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

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

"It reminds me of the old days" - Drivers cherish flat out F1 Hungary GP

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Hungarian GP
"It reminds me of the old days" - Drivers cherish flat out F1 Hungary GP

Mercedes impressed by "sizeable" McLaren upgrade after Hungarian GP defeat

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Hungaroring Pirelli test
Mercedes impressed by "sizeable" McLaren upgrade after Hungarian GP defeat

Lando Norris "much more confident" than during 2025 title campaign, says Andrea Stella

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Hungarian GP
Lando Norris "much more confident" than during 2025 title campaign, says Andrea Stella

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

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

Ferrari surprised by "spicy" Red Bull strategy that yielded Max Verstappen second in Hungary

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Hungarian GP
Ferrari surprised by "spicy" Red Bull strategy that yielded Max Verstappen second in Hungary

Is McLaren now a legitimate F1 2026 contender?

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Hungarian GP
Is McLaren now a legitimate F1 2026 contender?

Red Bull poaches Mercedes F1 junior driver chief as Helmut Marko successor

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Hungarian GP
Red Bull poaches Mercedes F1 junior driver chief as Helmut Marko successor

Winners and losers from F1's heated Hungarian Grand Prix

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Hungarian GP
Winners and losers from F1's heated Hungarian Grand Prix

Explained: McLaren's view of Oscar Piastri's explosive F1 Hungarian GP radio outburst

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Hungarian GP
Explained: McLaren's view of Oscar Piastri's explosive F1 Hungarian GP radio outburst

Oscar Piastri tears into "unacceptable" Carlos Sainz incident, accepts McLaren strategy

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Hungarian GP
Oscar Piastri tears into "unacceptable" Carlos Sainz incident, accepts McLaren strategy

F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris takes first 2026 win as frustrated Oscar Piastri retires

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Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris takes first 2026 win as frustrated Oscar Piastri retires

McLaren responds to Oscar Piastri's "not ideal" upgrade frustration

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Hungarian GP
McLaren responds to Oscar Piastri's "not ideal" upgrade frustration

Kimi Antonelli handed grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

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Hungarian GP
Kimi Antonelli handed grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

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

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

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

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

Kimi Antonelli risks grid drop as stewards launch Hungary F1 qualifying investigation

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Hungarian GP
Kimi Antonelli risks grid drop as stewards launch Hungary F1 qualifying investigation

F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris pips Lewis Hamilton to nail biting pole position

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Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris pips Lewis Hamilton to nail biting pole position

F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris edges Lewis Hamilton in final Hungaroring practice

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Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris edges Lewis Hamilton in final Hungaroring practice

Charles Leclerc: "I don't expect us to have today's gap" in F1 Hungary qualifying

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Hungarian GP
Charles Leclerc: "I don't expect us to have today's gap" in F1 Hungary qualifying

F1 Hungarian GP: Lewis Hamilton tops FP2 as Franco Colapinto brings out red flags

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Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Lewis Hamilton tops FP2 as Franco Colapinto brings out red flags

Lance Stroll misses F1 Hungary FP2 after Aston Martin suspension failure

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Hungarian GP
Lance Stroll misses F1 Hungary FP2 after Aston Martin suspension failure

Carlos Sainz warned, Max Verstappen let off for F1 Hungary GP incident

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Hungarian GP
Carlos Sainz warned, Max Verstappen let off for F1 Hungary GP incident

F1 Hungarian GP: Charles Leclerc tops FP1 as Lance Stroll brings out red flags

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Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Charles Leclerc tops FP1 as Lance Stroll brings out red flags

Malaysia investigating F1 2026 round as Bahrain plan fades

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Hungarian GP
Malaysia investigating F1 2026 round as Bahrain plan fades

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

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

Mercedes introduces new 612hp F1 safety car

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Hungarian GP
Mercedes introduces new 612hp F1 safety car

Cadillac's Sergio Perez fears Aston Martin's Hungary B-spec will "close the gap"

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Belgian GP
Cadillac's Sergio Perez fears Aston Martin's Hungary B-spec will "close the gap"

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

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

McLaren brings long-awaited Hungary F1 upgrade, trials 'Macarena' rear wing

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Belgian GP
McLaren brings long-awaited Hungary F1 upgrade, trials 'Macarena' rear wing

Oscar Piastri among drivers skipping FP1 as rookies join F1 Hungary weekend

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Belgian GP
Oscar Piastri among drivers skipping FP1 as rookies join F1 Hungary weekend

Fernando Alonso: F1 future decision hinges on rules, not Aston Martin’s performance

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Fernando Alonso: F1 future decision hinges on rules, not Aston Martin’s performance

Mercedes "still struggling" to understand George Russell's deployment issues

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Belgian GP
Mercedes "still struggling" to understand George Russell's deployment issues

McLaren: Lando Norris had outright pace for second in F1 Belgian GP

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Belgian GP
McLaren: Lando Norris had outright pace for second in F1 Belgian GP

Winners and losers from F1's Belgian Grand Prix

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Belgian GP
Winners and losers from F1's Belgian Grand Prix

"Kimi can buy me dinner." Valtteri Bottas jokes about his part in Antonelli’s Belgian GP win

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Belgian GP
"Kimi can buy me dinner." Valtteri Bottas jokes about his part in Antonelli’s Belgian GP win

All Mercedes cars struggled with power issue at Belgian GP start, reveals Toto Wolff

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Belgian GP
All Mercedes cars struggled with power issue at Belgian GP start, reveals Toto Wolff

Lewis Hamilton keeps fourth in F1 Belgian GP as mechanic escapes unhurt

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Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton keeps fourth in F1 Belgian GP as mechanic escapes unhurt

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

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

George Russell furious at "dangerous" battery issue before Hamilton Spa clash

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Belgian GP
George Russell furious at "dangerous" battery issue before Hamilton Spa clash

George Russell out of F1 Belgian GP after Lewis Hamilton contact

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Belgian GP
George Russell out of F1 Belgian GP after Lewis Hamilton contact

Why F1 drivers are being beaten by their own power units

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

Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari "didn't feel the same" after Belgian GP practice crash

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Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari "didn't feel the same" after Belgian GP practice crash

“Serious issue at play” – Why George Russell changed his mind about deficit to Kimi Antonelli

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Belgian GP
“Serious issue at play” – Why George Russell changed his mind about deficit to Kimi Antonelli