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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

Fernando Alonso has "no idea" what he’ll do when he eventually retires from F1

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Fernando Alonso has "no idea" what he’ll do when he eventually retires from F1

Audi's Mattia Binotto calls for F1 ADUO rethink amid exploit fears

Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
Audi's Mattia Binotto calls for F1 ADUO rethink amid exploit fears

Mercedes investigating George Russell's British GP top speed issue

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Formula 1
British GP
Mercedes investigating George Russell's British GP top speed issue

One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Christian Horner

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Formula 1
British GP
One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Christian Horner

Why Fred Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now

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British GP
Why Fred Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now

Toto Wolff expecting strong Ferrari challenge for 'rest of F1 2026'

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Formula 1
British GP
Toto Wolff expecting strong Ferrari challenge for 'rest of F1 2026'

Fred Vasseur dismisses Ferrari F1 title talk: "Let's focus on Spa"

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Formula 1
British GP
Fred Vasseur dismisses Ferrari F1 title talk: "Let's focus on Spa"

F1 could move away from customer power units in 2031

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Formula 1
British GP
F1 could move away from customer power units in 2031

Toto Wolff: I wish Abu Dhabi 2021 had been handled like the F1 British GP

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Formula 1
British GP
Toto Wolff: I wish Abu Dhabi 2021 had been handled like the F1 British GP

Juan Pablo Montoya calls for F1 rule change after Kimi Antonelli penalty

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British GP
Juan Pablo Montoya calls for F1 rule change after Kimi Antonelli penalty

Winners and losers from F1 British GP

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Formula 1
British GP
Winners and losers from F1 British GP

Mercedes won't contest Kimi Antonelli's British GP track limits penalty

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British GP
Mercedes won't contest Kimi Antonelli's British GP track limits penalty

Why Lewis Hamilton keeps British GP podium despite yellow-flag sanction

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Formula 1
British GP
Why Lewis Hamilton keeps British GP podium despite yellow-flag sanction

F1 British GP: Charles Leclerc wins as Kimi Antonelli hits trouble

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Formula 1
British GP
F1 British GP: Charles Leclerc wins as Kimi Antonelli hits trouble

Why McLaren is sliding backwards in British GP after surprise sprint podium

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Formula 1
British GP
Why McLaren is sliding backwards in British GP after surprise sprint podium

F1 to decide before summer break on recovering Middle Eastern race

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Formula 1
British GP
F1 to decide before summer break on recovering Middle Eastern race

"Maybe I've hit a black cat" – Max Verstappen can't believe Red Bull's bad luck in F1 2026

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Formula 1
British GP
"Maybe I've hit a black cat" – Max Verstappen can't believe Red Bull's bad luck in F1 2026

"There is no point racing like this" – Max Verstappen reveals Red Bull power unit issue

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Formula 1
British GP
"There is no point racing like this" – Max Verstappen reveals Red Bull power unit issue

F1 British GP: Kimi Antonelli beats Charles Leclerc to pole position

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Formula 1
British GP
F1 British GP: Kimi Antonelli beats Charles Leclerc to pole position

McLaren explains fuel error that nearly cost Lando Norris in F1 British GP sprint

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Formula 1
British GP
McLaren explains fuel error that nearly cost Lando Norris in F1 British GP sprint

Christian Horner to attend F1 British GP, set to launch memoir

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Formula 1
British GP
Christian Horner to attend F1 British GP, set to launch memoir

Why gloves are now off between Ferrari and Mercedes amid Fred Vasseur anger

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British GP
Why gloves are now off between Ferrari and Mercedes amid Fred Vasseur anger

F1 British GP: Lewis Hamilton claims sprint pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli

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Formula 1
British GP
F1 British GP: Lewis Hamilton claims sprint pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli

What's behind Lewis Hamilton's Lego British GP drivers' parade concerns

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Formula 1
British GP
What's behind Lewis Hamilton's Lego British GP drivers' parade concerns

Max Verstappen on George Russell's Austrian GP pole: 'I would have done the same'

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Formula 1
British GP
Max Verstappen on George Russell's Austrian GP pole: 'I would have done the same'

How "charging station" Silverstone will really look different in F1 2026

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British GP
How "charging station" Silverstone will really look different in F1 2026

Fernando Alonso: Silverstone will be "very different and not fun to drive" in 2026 F1 cars

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Formula 1
British GP
Fernando Alonso: Silverstone will be "very different and not fun to drive" in 2026 F1 cars

Why similar Williams and Aston Martin failures are oddly reassuring

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Austrian GP
Why similar Williams and Aston Martin failures are oddly reassuring

Valtteri Bottas calls for Cadillac reliability fixes: 'We can't learn if we don't finish'

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Valtteri Bottas calls for Cadillac reliability fixes: 'We can't learn if we don't finish'

Five takeaways from Newey's revealing interview on Aston Martin’s F1 2026 woes

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Austrian GP
Five takeaways from Newey's revealing interview on Aston Martin’s F1 2026 woes

'Not fit for purpose' – Adrian Newey on structural problems behind Aston Martin's 2026 F1 disaster

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
'Not fit for purpose' – Adrian Newey on structural problems behind Aston Martin's 2026 F1 disaster

Adrian Newey hopes Aston Martin upgrades keep Fernando Alonso "in the cockpit for another season"

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Adrian Newey hopes Aston Martin upgrades keep Fernando Alonso "in the cockpit for another season"

Could Max Verstappen mount a title challenge? "We still have too many issues"

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Austrian GP
Could Max Verstappen mount a title challenge? "We still have too many issues"

George Russell resorted to "abnormal" driving style to win F1 Austrian GP

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Austrian GP
George Russell resorted to "abnormal" driving style to win F1 Austrian GP

Winners and losers from F1's blistering Austrian Grand Prix

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Winners and losers from F1's blistering Austrian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc confused by woeful Ferrari race pace in Austria

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc confused by woeful Ferrari race pace in Austria

Max Verstappen details mid-Austrian GP Red Bull F1 car issues that dented victory charge

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Max Verstappen details mid-Austrian GP Red Bull F1 car issues that dented victory charge

Andrea Stella calls on McLaren to step up development "intensity" to catch Mercedes

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Andrea Stella calls on McLaren to step up development "intensity" to catch Mercedes

Charles Leclerc puzzled by "very strange" Ferrari step on tough Austrian GP weekend

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Charles Leclerc puzzled by "very strange" Ferrari step on tough Austrian GP weekend

Max Verstappen on "odd" Austria F1 qualifying crash: "As I turned the wheel I was gone"

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Max Verstappen on "odd" Austria F1 qualifying crash: "As I turned the wheel I was gone"

Why George Russell escaped investigation for yellow flag Austria GP pole lap

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
Why George Russell escaped investigation for yellow flag Austria GP pole lap

Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone backs push for V8 engines

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Austrian GP
Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone backs push for V8 engines

F1 Austrian GP: George Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in hot FP3

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Austrian GP
F1 Austrian GP: George Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in hot FP3

Ferrari "far away" from Barcelona repeat after "difficult" Austria F1 practice

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Austrian GP
Ferrari "far away" from Barcelona repeat after "difficult" Austria F1 practice

George Russell identifies "concerning" McLaren pace as a 'real threat' in F1 Austria GP

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Austrian GP
George Russell identifies "concerning" McLaren pace as a 'real threat' in F1 Austria GP

FIA bans Ferrari style exhaust wings in F1 2027

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Austrian GP
FIA bans Ferrari style exhaust wings in F1 2027

The staggering statistic behind Isack Hadjar's and Red Bull's poor 2026 F1 starts

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Austrian GP
The staggering statistic behind Isack Hadjar's and Red Bull's poor 2026 F1 starts

F1 Austrian GP: Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes 1-2 as Lando Norris faces reliability woes in FP1

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
F1 Austrian GP: Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes 1-2 as Lando Norris faces reliability woes in FP1

How worried F1 rivals really are about Ferrari's progress and engine upgrade

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Austrian GP
How worried F1 rivals really are about Ferrari's progress and engine upgrade

FIA abolishes presidential term limits at Macau meetings

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Austrian GP
FIA abolishes presidential term limits at Macau meetings

Why Honda will just use one of its two upgrade opportunities in F1 2026

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Austrian GP
Why Honda will just use one of its two upgrade opportunities in F1 2026

FIA declares Heat Hazard for F1 Austrian Grand Prix

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Austrian GP
FIA declares Heat Hazard for F1 Austrian Grand Prix

Why Lewis Hamilton's race engineer bond shows F1 is a people's sport first

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Austrian GP
Why Lewis Hamilton's race engineer bond shows F1 is a people's sport first

McLaren to trial upside-down rear wing at F1's Austrian GP

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Austrian GP
McLaren to trial upside-down rear wing at F1's Austrian GP

FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes

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Formula 1
Austrian GP
FIA confirms 2027 F1 power unit changes

F1-like calendar, F1-like performance? How Formula E is "growing up" in its big brother's orbit

Formula E
Formula E
F1-like calendar, F1-like performance? How Formula E is "growing up" in its big brother's orbit

COTA to make Formula E debut in record-breaking 2026-27 calendar

Formula E
Formula E
COTA to make Formula E debut in record-breaking 2026-27 calendar

Monaco F1 controversy goes to court: What happens next for Pierre Gasly's podium

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Austrian GP
Monaco F1 controversy goes to court: What happens next for Pierre Gasly's podium

Lewis Hamilton calls on FIA and F1 to solve karting's "$1 million-a-year" issue

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Lewis Hamilton calls on FIA and F1 to solve karting's "$1 million-a-year" issue

Mercedes withdraws George Russell Monaco penalty review request

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Formula 1
Monaco GP
Mercedes withdraws George Russell Monaco penalty review request