Skip to main content
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

F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year – Stefano Domenicali

Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year – Stefano Domenicali

F1 2026 rules changes can happen in "continuous" steps – Racing Bulls

Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 2026 rules changes can happen in "continuous" steps – Racing Bulls

F1 boss issues verdict on start of 2026 season, backs potential changes

Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 boss issues verdict on start of 2026 season, backs potential changes

How every F1 2026 team performed so far, team by team

Formula 1
Formula 1
How every F1 2026 team performed so far, team by team

Cadillac faces “biggest challenge” to close F1 gap, says Sergio Perez

Formula 1
Formula 1
Cadillac faces “biggest challenge” to close F1 gap, says Sergio Perez

F1 relies on thousands of volunteers — here’s how many

Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 relies on thousands of volunteers — here’s how many

F1's only rookie Arvid Lindblad settles in: "Why should there be pressure? I'm living the dream"

Formula 1
Formula 1
F1's only rookie Arvid Lindblad settles in: "Why should there be pressure? I'm living the dream"

FIA reports "constructive dialogue" on F1 2026 tweaks, outlines decision timeline

Formula 1
Formula 1
FIA reports "constructive dialogue" on F1 2026 tweaks, outlines decision timeline

Red Bull confirms Max Verstappen's F1 race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave in 2028

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Red Bull confirms Max Verstappen's F1 race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave in 2028

F2 to join F1 bill in Miami and Canada

FIA F2
FIA F2
F2 to join F1 bill in Miami and Canada

What to expect from F1 power unit rules talks on Thursday

Formula 1
Formula 1
What to expect from F1 power unit rules talks on Thursday

Damon Hill's standout memories from his 1996 F1 title-clinching race

Formula 1
Japanese GP
Damon Hill's standout memories from his 1996 F1 title-clinching race

Cadillac drivers identify the F1 team's next steps: "We need a second now"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Cadillac drivers identify the F1 team's next steps: "We need a second now"

Which teams will benefit and lose out the most from F1's enforced April break

Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Which teams will benefit and lose out the most from F1's enforced April break

Fred Vasseur pinpoints what boosted Ferrari's morale in Japan

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Fred Vasseur pinpoints what boosted Ferrari's morale in Japan

How F1's smallest team has weathered the 2026 storm and started thriving

Formula 1
How F1's smallest team has weathered the 2026 storm and started thriving

Haas "doesn't see the ceiling" with impressive Oliver Bearman

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Haas "doesn't see the ceiling" with impressive Oliver Bearman

Pierre Gasly: "Too much negativity" around F1 2026 as driver skill still matters

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Pierre Gasly: "Too much negativity" around F1 2026 as driver skill still matters

Why Aston Martin has no need to “make peace” with Honda

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Why Aston Martin has no need to “make peace” with Honda

Miami will be the start of a "new F1 championship", here's why

Formula 1
Formula 1
Miami GP
Miami will be the start of a "new F1 championship", here's why

George Russell, Formula 1 and an exercise in patience

Formula 1
Japanese GP
George Russell, Formula 1 and an exercise in patience

Is McLaren back in the game? The factors behind its Japan F1 podium

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Is McLaren back in the game? The factors behind its Japan F1 podium

Toto Wolff "in two minds" on Christian Horner F1 return: "He's broken a lot of glass"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Toto Wolff "in two minds" on Christian Horner F1 return: "He's broken a lot of glass"

Winners and losers from F1's fraught Japanese Grand Prix

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Winners and losers from F1's fraught Japanese Grand Prix

Cadillac no longer last after beating Aston Martin in Suzuka qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Cadillac no longer last after beating Aston Martin in Suzuka qualifying

"Hurts your soul": Why F1 drivers were so upset after Suzuka qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
"Hurts your soul": Why F1 drivers were so upset after Suzuka qualifying

Honda engine vibrations curiously vanish, then reappear, on Aston Martin F1 car

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Honda engine vibrations curiously vanish, then reappear, on Aston Martin F1 car

Ex-F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen issues pointed message amid Max Verstappen motivation concern

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Ex-F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen issues pointed message amid Max Verstappen motivation concern

Red Bull keen to clear the air after Max Verstappen incident with F1 journalist

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Red Bull keen to clear the air after Max Verstappen incident with F1 journalist

Lando Norris in "catch-up" mode at F1 Japanese GP as struggles continue

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Lando Norris in "catch-up" mode at F1 Japanese GP as struggles continue

Fernando Alonso: Suzuka driving challenge "gone" with 2026 F1 cars

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Fernando Alonso: Suzuka driving challenge "gone" with 2026 F1 cars

Lewis Hamilton fears Ferrari regression in F1 pecking order

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Lewis Hamilton fears Ferrari regression in F1 pecking order

Max Verstappen: “I'm not even frustrated anymore, I'm beyond that”

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Max Verstappen: “I'm not even frustrated anymore, I'm beyond that”

F1 Japanese GP: Mercedes takes 1-2 as Kimi Antonelli fastest in FP3

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
F1 Japanese GP: Mercedes takes 1-2 as Kimi Antonelli fastest in FP3

Where Ferrari thinks it stacks up in Japan after mixed Friday

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Where Ferrari thinks it stacks up in Japan after mixed Friday

Laurent Mekies: Red Bull F1 team "very far" in Japan with fundamental issues  

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Laurent Mekies: Red Bull F1 team "very far" in Japan with fundamental issues  

Red Bull's F1 car issues are “no easy fix” at Suzuka, Max Verstappen warns

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Red Bull's F1 car issues are “no easy fix” at Suzuka, Max Verstappen warns

F1 Japanese GP: George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli by 0.026s in FP1

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
F1 Japanese GP: George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli by 0.026s in FP1

Oscar Piastri: Mercedes F1 advantage over McLaren is "nothing magical"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Oscar Piastri: Mercedes F1 advantage over McLaren is "nothing magical"

Honda's painful Japan homecoming is just the start of a bumpy ride

Formula 1
Japanese GP
Honda's painful Japan homecoming is just the start of a bumpy ride

Still top-tier or neutered? Drivers weigh in on Suzuka's F1 challenge

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Still top-tier or neutered? Drivers weigh in on Suzuka's F1 challenge

Mercedes' "two-phase" front wing activation a reliability issue, not an exploit

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Mercedes' "two-phase" front wing activation a reliability issue, not an exploit

How Honda's quest for F1 reliability is going amid Aston Martin struggles

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
How Honda's quest for F1 reliability is going amid Aston Martin struggles

McLaren identifies two different Mercedes battery issues behind China F1 disaster

Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
McLaren identifies two different Mercedes battery issues behind China F1 disaster

How China F1 weekend "exposed Audi's weaknesses"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
How China F1 weekend "exposed Audi's weaknesses"

Is enjoying F1 in 2026 a guilty pleasure?

Formula 1
Chinese GP
Is enjoying F1 in 2026 a guilty pleasure?

Jonathan Wheatley: Max Verstappen's F1 2026 criticism is "because of where he finds himself"  

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Jonathan Wheatley: Max Verstappen's F1 2026 criticism is "because of where he finds himself"  

How 2023 is McLaren's blueprint to dust itself off after Chinese F1 no-show

Formula 1
Chinese GP
How 2023 is McLaren's blueprint to dust itself off after Chinese F1 no-show

Winners and losers from F1's spectacular Chinese Grand Prix

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Winners and losers from F1's spectacular Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari GP podium "one of the most enjoyable F1 races ever"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari GP podium "one of the most enjoyable F1 races ever"

Kimi Antonelli fights tears after maiden F1 win: "I gave myself a heart attack at the end"

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Kimi Antonelli fights tears after maiden F1 win: "I gave myself a heart attack at the end"

McLaren suffers F1 Chinese GP disaster as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri hit trouble

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
McLaren suffers F1 Chinese GP disaster as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri hit trouble

Bahrain and Saudi Arabian F1 races officially cancelled amid Middle East conflict

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Bahrain and Saudi Arabian F1 races officially cancelled amid Middle East conflict

Alex Albon: Williams "cannot hide" behind F1 2026 car weight

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Alex Albon: Williams "cannot hide" behind F1 2026 car weight

McLaren lacking aerodynamic load and efficiency as it learns Mercedes F1 engine

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
McLaren lacking aerodynamic load and efficiency as it learns Mercedes F1 engine

Max Verstappen: Every lap is survival in "undriveable" Red Bull F1 car

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Max Verstappen: Every lap is survival in "undriveable" Red Bull F1 car

Five quick takeaways from F1's Chinese GP sprint and qualifying

Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Five quick takeaways from F1's Chinese GP sprint and qualifying

Why time has run out for F1 to save its Bahrain and Saudi races

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Why time has run out for F1 to save its Bahrain and Saudi races

Exclusive: Graeme Lowdon on what's next for Cadillac after short F1 honeymoon

Formula 1
Australian GP
Exclusive: Graeme Lowdon on what's next for Cadillac after short F1 honeymoon

Spanish GP releases latest Madring F1 renderings

Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Spanish GP releases latest Madring F1 renderings