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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

Winners and losers from F1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix street brawl

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Azerbaijan GP
Winners and losers from F1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix street brawl

Alpine's Flavio Briatore rips into Franco Colapinto's Baku blunder: "A very poor move"

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Azerbaijan GP
Alpine's Flavio Briatore rips into Franco Colapinto's Baku blunder: "A very poor move"

"A big mistake" - Devastated Franco Colapinto apologises to Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris for Baku F1 crash

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Azerbaijan GP
"A big mistake" - Devastated Franco Colapinto apologises to Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris for Baku F1 crash

Lando Norris: FIA should hand out race ban for Franco Colapinto's Baku F1 crash

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Azerbaijan GP
Lando Norris: FIA should hand out race ban for Franco Colapinto's Baku F1 crash

F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell holds off late Max Verstappen charge for victory

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell holds off late Max Verstappen charge for victory

Fernando Alonso's only goal in no-hope Baku: Save parts for F1's triple-header

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Azerbaijan GP
Fernando Alonso's only goal in no-hope Baku: Save parts for F1's triple-header

Carlos Sainz handed Azerbaijan F1 grid drop for yellow flag breach

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Azerbaijan GP
Carlos Sainz handed Azerbaijan F1 grid drop for yellow flag breach

Kimi Antonelli angry at himself for Baku crash: "I need to do a much better job"

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Azerbaijan GP
Kimi Antonelli angry at himself for Baku crash: "I need to do a much better job"

F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell takes dominant pole as Kimi Antonelli crashes out

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell takes dominant pole as Kimi Antonelli crashes out

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen leads George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in final practice

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen leads George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in final practice

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

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll hit with Azerbaijan GP grid penalties for Honda F1 power unit changes

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Azerbaijan GP
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll hit with Azerbaijan GP grid penalties for Honda F1 power unit changes

F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell leads ominous Mercedes 1-2 in FP2

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell leads ominous Mercedes 1-2 in FP2

F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell tops FP1 as Kimi Antonelli suffers Mercedes trouble

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Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell tops FP1 as Kimi Antonelli suffers Mercedes trouble

Max Verstappen rules out 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours bid

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Max Verstappen rules out 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours bid

Fernando Alonso explains future talks as F1's greatest circuits "killed" by 2026 rules

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Azerbaijan GP
Fernando Alonso explains future talks as F1's greatest circuits "killed" by 2026 rules

Red Bull retains Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen for F1 2027

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Azerbaijan GP
Red Bull retains Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen for F1 2027

Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future

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Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future

How Kimi Antonelli's luxury problem is causing Toto Wolff and Mercedes grey hairs

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Spanish GP
How Kimi Antonelli's luxury problem is causing Toto Wolff and Mercedes grey hairs

Mercedes: 2027 development “started a while ago” as F1 2026 domination continues

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Spanish GP
Mercedes: 2027 development “started a while ago” as F1 2026 domination continues

What's behind the talks between the FIA president and Fernando Alonso over ADUO?

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What's behind the talks between the FIA president and Fernando Alonso over ADUO?

Mercedes open to F1 ADUO rethink amid Fernando Alonso talks with FIA president

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Spanish GP
Mercedes open to F1 ADUO rethink amid Fernando Alonso talks with FIA president

Alpine hires former Mercedes F1 tech chief Mike Elliott as CTO

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Spanish GP
Alpine hires former Mercedes F1 tech chief Mike Elliott as CTO

F1 announces 2027 calendar - with Monaco among 10 sprint races

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F1 announces 2027 calendar - with Monaco among 10 sprint races

Five ways F1 can fix the Madring for next year's Spanish GP

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Spanish GP
Five ways F1 can fix the Madring for next year's Spanish GP

Spanish GP promises Madring track changes following F1 criticism

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Spanish GP
Spanish GP promises Madring track changes following F1 criticism

Aston Martin partner Honda replaces F1 power unit boss

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Spanish GP
Aston Martin partner Honda replaces F1 power unit boss

Lewis Hamilton “lucky to make it round” after Spanish GP brake failure

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Spanish GP
Lewis Hamilton “lucky to make it round” after Spanish GP brake failure

Lando Norris to test McLaren MCL-HY hypercar ahead of Azerbaijan GP

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Spanish GP
Lando Norris to test McLaren MCL-HY hypercar ahead of Azerbaijan GP

Winners and losers from F1's underwhelming Spanish Grand Prix

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Spanish GP
Winners and losers from F1's underwhelming Spanish Grand Prix

"F1 cannot continue this way" - Fernando Alonso sounds the alarm at Spanish GP home race

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Spanish GP
"F1 cannot continue this way" - Fernando Alonso sounds the alarm at Spanish GP home race

Lando Norris "shocked" to snatch F1 Spanish GP pole from Kimi Antonelli

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Spanish GP
Lando Norris "shocked" to snatch F1 Spanish GP pole from Kimi Antonelli

F1 Spanish GP: Lando Norris takes stunning pole at Madring

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Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Lando Norris takes stunning pole at Madring

F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli tops red-flagged FP3 following Lewis Hamilton, Oliver Bearman crashes

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Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli tops red-flagged FP3 following Lewis Hamilton, Oliver Bearman crashes

“High risk” and a chance of “chaos” - drivers open up on F1’s new Madring circuit

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Spanish GP
“High risk” and a chance of “chaos” - drivers open up on F1’s new Madring circuit

F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli leads tricky second practice as Arvid Lindblad crashes

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Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli leads tricky second practice as Arvid Lindblad crashes

Cadillac hit with two fines after Sergio Perez FP1 infringements in Madrid

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Spanish GP
Cadillac hit with two fines after Sergio Perez FP1 infringements in Madrid

What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off

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Spanish GP
What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off

George Russell's telling admission after Monza F1 defeat to Kimi Antonelli

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Spanish GP
George Russell's telling admission after Monza F1 defeat to Kimi Antonelli

What the drivers make of "crazy" Madrid F1 circuit

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Spanish GP
What the drivers make of "crazy" Madrid F1 circuit

McLaren drops upside down H-wing concept for F1 Spanish GP

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Spanish GP
McLaren drops upside down H-wing concept for F1 Spanish GP

Audi to go through with appeal against Yuki Tsunoda's Italian GP result

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Italian GP
Audi to go through with appeal against Yuki Tsunoda's Italian GP result

Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur recall GP2 title and 'most impressive race ever', 20 years on

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Italian GP
Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur recall GP2 title and 'most impressive race ever', 20 years on

What to expect from F1's newest race as Madring debuts

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Spanish GP
What to expect from F1's newest race as Madring debuts

Isack Hadjar to sit out third F1 race in Madrid as Yuki Tsunoda returns

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Spanish GP
Isack Hadjar to sit out third F1 race in Madrid as Yuki Tsunoda returns

Lando Norris: Oscar Piastri move complaint made "in the heat of the moment" in Italian GP

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Italian GP
Lando Norris: Oscar Piastri move complaint made "in the heat of the moment" in Italian GP

How Monza introduced oval-like slipstream racing to F1

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Italian GP
How Monza introduced oval-like slipstream racing to F1

Audi lodges intention to appeal against Yuki Tsunoda's Italian GP verdict

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Italian GP
Audi lodges intention to appeal against Yuki Tsunoda's Italian GP verdict

Winners and losers from F1's memorable Italian Grand Prix

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Italian GP
Winners and losers from F1's memorable Italian Grand Prix

Yuki Tsunoda keeps Italian GP point after escaping sanction

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Italian GP
Yuki Tsunoda keeps Italian GP point after escaping sanction

George Russell "not even thinking" of F1 title comeback as Kimi Antonelli "in control"

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Italian GP
George Russell "not even thinking" of F1 title comeback as Kimi Antonelli "in control"

Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda summoned for restart infringement, risks losing F1 point

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Italian GP
Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda summoned for restart infringement, risks losing F1 point

Kimi Antonelli: Italian GP comeback win a "dream come true"

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Italian GP
Kimi Antonelli: Italian GP comeback win a "dream come true"

F1 Italian GP: Kimi Antonelli takes sensational home win from 19th at Monza

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Italian GP
F1 Italian GP: Kimi Antonelli takes sensational home win from 19th at Monza

Huge crash knocks Charles Leclerc out of F1 Italian GP

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Italian GP
Huge crash knocks Charles Leclerc out of F1 Italian GP

WATCH: Sebastian Vettel pays emotional Michael Schumacher tribute in Ferrari F2002 - "I felt him a lot today"

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Italian GP
WATCH: Sebastian Vettel pays emotional Michael Schumacher tribute in Ferrari F2002 - "I felt him a lot today"

How McLaren left itself exposed at the F1 Italian Grand Prix

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Italian GP
How McLaren left itself exposed at the F1 Italian Grand Prix

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