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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

George Russell frustrated with Max Verstappen qualifying antics: "He just slammed on the brakes"

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Italian GP
George Russell frustrated with Max Verstappen qualifying antics: "He just slammed on the brakes"

"Something special here" - Pierre Gasly ecstatic to take maiden F1 pole in Monza

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Italian GP
"Something special here" - Pierre Gasly ecstatic to take maiden F1 pole in Monza

F1 Italian GP: Pierre Gasly takes shock maiden pole at Monza

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Italian GP
F1 Italian GP: Pierre Gasly takes shock maiden pole at Monza

F1 Italian GP: George Russell leads Lewis Hamilton in FP3

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Italian GP
F1 Italian GP: George Russell leads Lewis Hamilton in FP3

FIA's Court of Appeal responds to Flavio Briatore bias allegations

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Italian GP
FIA's Court of Appeal responds to Flavio Briatore bias allegations

Why Kimi Antonelli’s Italian GP recovery may be tougher than expected

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Italian GP
Why Kimi Antonelli’s Italian GP recovery may be tougher than expected

McLaren "not in the fight for Italian GP pole", admits downbeat Lando Norris

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Italian GP
McLaren "not in the fight for Italian GP pole", admits downbeat Lando Norris

F1 Italian GP: George Russell outpaces Charles Leclerc in FP2

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Italian GP
F1 Italian GP: George Russell outpaces Charles Leclerc in FP2

Flavio Briatore questions Monaco GP appeal integrity in explosive Monza press conference

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Italian GP
Flavio Briatore questions Monaco GP appeal integrity in explosive Monza press conference

Lando Norris' new race team received "a few hundred job requests"

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Italian GP
Lando Norris' new race team received "a few hundred job requests"

F1 Italian GP: Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 in FP1

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Italian GP
F1 Italian GP: Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 in FP1

Wild, sad or just slow? What drivers expect from F1's low-battery racing at Monza

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Italian GP
Wild, sad or just slow? What drivers expect from F1's low-battery racing at Monza

Penalised Kimi Antonelli to go "full attack" at Monza F1 home race

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Italian GP
Penalised Kimi Antonelli to go "full attack" at Monza F1 home race

FIA declares heat hazard for F1's Italian GP in Monza

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Italian GP
FIA declares heat hazard for F1's Italian GP in Monza

Lando Norris launches race team, young driver programme

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Italian GP
Lando Norris launches race team, young driver programme

Isack Hadjar to miss Italian GP as Yuki Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls

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Italian GP
Isack Hadjar to miss Italian GP as Yuki Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls

"We want to see Franco Colapinto" - Argentinian president pushes for F1 return

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Italian GP
"We want to see Franco Colapinto" - Argentinian president pushes for F1 return

Red Bull confirms hire of key Aston Martin engineer as Gianpiero Lambiase replacement

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Italian GP
Red Bull confirms hire of key Aston Martin engineer as Gianpiero Lambiase replacement

McLaren to run rotating F1 rear wing in Italy, calls it H-wing

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Italian GP
McLaren to run rotating F1 rear wing in Italy, calls it H-wing

Why "mega difficult" ADUO upgrades haven't been a game changer in F1

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Italian GP
Why "mega difficult" ADUO upgrades haven't been a game changer in F1

Rivals copying Ferrari F1 aero designs "a good reward" for Maranello

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Italian GP
Rivals copying Ferrari F1 aero designs "a good reward" for Maranello

How Ferrari can "push until the end" with F1 2026 upgrades, and why it will

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Italian GP
How Ferrari can "push until the end" with F1 2026 upgrades, and why it will

Ferrari unveils Michael Schumacher-inspired F1 livery for Italian GP

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Italian GP
Ferrari unveils Michael Schumacher-inspired F1 livery for Italian GP

Ferrari "can't leave more points on the table" with race execution

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Italian GP
Ferrari "can't leave more points on the table" with race execution

How Lewis Hamilton "shook the system" at Ferrari, but it couldn't fulfil all his wishes

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Italian GP
How Lewis Hamilton "shook the system" at Ferrari, but it couldn't fulfil all his wishes

How Fred Vasseur has been challenging Ferrari to take more risks

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How Fred Vasseur has been challenging Ferrari to take more risks

What Lando Norris' contract extension means for McLaren and Oscar Piastri

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What Lando Norris' contract extension means for McLaren and Oscar Piastri

Lando Norris extends McLaren deal until F1 2030

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Lando Norris extends McLaren deal until F1 2030

Aston Martin warns of tougher F1 races to come

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Dutch GP
Aston Martin warns of tougher F1 races to come

Franco Colapinto secures new Alpine deal for F1 2027

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Dutch GP
Franco Colapinto secures new Alpine deal for F1 2027

How a grateful Yuki Tsunoda found F1 closure as Dutch GP super-sub

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How a grateful Yuki Tsunoda found F1 closure as Dutch GP super-sub

Andrea Stella casts doubt on Mercedes’ claim it can’t afford F1 upgrades: “I actually don't believe you”

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Andrea Stella casts doubt on Mercedes’ claim it can’t afford F1 upgrades: “I actually don't believe you”

Lewis Hamilton apologises for Ferrari radio fury: "That wasn’t the best version of me"

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Dutch GP
Lewis Hamilton apologises for Ferrari radio fury: "That wasn’t the best version of me"

“Fairness and integrity” of F1 at stake as FIA set to rule on Monaco controversy

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Dutch GP
“Fairness and integrity” of F1 at stake as FIA set to rule on Monaco controversy

FIA exploring legal options over abuse against F1 stewards following Franco Colapinto's Dutch GP penalty

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FIA exploring legal options over abuse against F1 stewards following Franco Colapinto's Dutch GP penalty

How Nico Hulkenberg avoided a massive shunt with Audi team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto

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Dutch GP
How Nico Hulkenberg avoided a massive shunt with Audi team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto

Mercedes "hasn't got the money" to keep up with rival F1 upgrades

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Dutch GP
Mercedes "hasn't got the money" to keep up with rival F1 upgrades

What Ferrari actually meant to do when Lewis Hamilton felt like a "guinea pig"

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Dutch GP
What Ferrari actually meant to do when Lewis Hamilton felt like a "guinea pig"

Mercedes confirms Kimi Antonelli grid penalty in Monza

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Mercedes confirms Kimi Antonelli grid penalty in Monza

Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Dutch Grand Prix

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Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Dutch Grand Prix

Carlos Sainz explains "fair" penalty for Alex Albon contact: "The worst possible outcome"

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Dutch GP
Carlos Sainz explains "fair" penalty for Alex Albon contact: "The worst possible outcome"

George Russell concedes Mercedes' Dutch GP team orders "the right decision"

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Dutch GP
George Russell concedes Mercedes' Dutch GP team orders "the right decision"

Dutch F1 grand prix red flagged after huge Max Verstappen crash

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Dutch F1 grand prix red flagged after huge Max Verstappen crash

Why McLaren thinks Ferrari is quickest in Zandvoort, but may well be stuck

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Dutch GP
Why McLaren thinks Ferrari is quickest in Zandvoort, but may well be stuck

Max Verstappen: Smaller team-mate gaps are down to "easier" cars as Andrea Stella disagrees

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Max Verstappen: Smaller team-mate gaps are down to "easier" cars as Andrea Stella disagrees

Liam Lawson: I always knew 2025 could have been different - now you do too

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Liam Lawson: I always knew 2025 could have been different - now you do too

Why Williams problems are worse than previously known

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Why Williams problems are worse than previously known

"Nowhere near good enough" - McLaren puzzled by Dutch GP sprint struggles

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Dutch GP
"Nowhere near good enough" - McLaren puzzled by Dutch GP sprint struggles

Dune and dusted - F1 drivers mourn "old school" Zandvoort loss

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Dutch GP
Dune and dusted - F1 drivers mourn "old school" Zandvoort loss

Lewis Hamilton baffled by "completely different" Ferrari as Charles Leclerc nails "best" lap of 2026

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Dutch GP
Lewis Hamilton baffled by "completely different" Ferrari as Charles Leclerc nails "best" lap of 2026

"Difficult to stop the car" - Honda's new engine comes with fresh but expected driveability issues

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Dutch GP
"Difficult to stop the car" - Honda's new engine comes with fresh but expected driveability issues

Williams was "concerned about losing both" Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon before contract extensions

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Williams was "concerned about losing both" Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon before contract extensions

Fernando Alonso: No timeframe on confirming F1 future

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Fernando Alonso: No timeframe on confirming F1 future

“Something needed to change” – What Marcin Budkowski must fix at Cadillac F1

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“Something needed to change” – What Marcin Budkowski must fix at Cadillac F1

US billionaire Woody Johnson acquires minor Aston Martin F1 stake

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US billionaire Woody Johnson acquires minor Aston Martin F1 stake

Liam Lawson's unexpected Red Bull call-up rewards his perseverance

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Liam Lawson's unexpected Red Bull call-up rewards his perseverance

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon give James Vowles a second chance at Williams

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Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon give James Vowles a second chance at Williams

"No nine to five cruise" - The rewarding challenge of assembling Cadillac's trackside team from scratch

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"No nine to five cruise" - The rewarding challenge of assembling Cadillac's trackside team from scratch

Alex Albon commits to Williams F1 team for 2027

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Alex Albon commits to Williams F1 team for 2027

Allan McNish reveals qualities that give Gabriel Bortoleto “a lot of potential”

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Allan McNish reveals qualities that give Gabriel Bortoleto “a lot of potential”