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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

Mercedes withdraws George Russell Monaco penalty review request

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Monaco GP
Mercedes withdraws George Russell Monaco penalty review request

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari surge may force Mercedes into team orders

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari surge may force Mercedes into team orders

"Two weeks ago it was a disaster" - Fred Vasseur brushes aside Lewis Hamilton title talk

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
"Two weeks ago it was a disaster" - Fred Vasseur brushes aside Lewis Hamilton title talk

From overturned penalties to power unit rules, F1 can't stop itself from opening Pandora's box

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From overturned penalties to power unit rules, F1 can't stop itself from opening Pandora's box

'No corner quite like it' - How F1 put the mad in Madring

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
'No corner quite like it' - How F1 put the mad in Madring

F1 reports 35% CO2 reduction ahead of 2030 net-zero target

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
F1 reports 35% CO2 reduction ahead of 2030 net-zero target

McLaren and Red Bull formally appeal against Pierre Gasly's Monaco reinstatement

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
McLaren and Red Bull formally appeal against Pierre Gasly's Monaco reinstatement

Why one of McLaren's world-beating strengths didn't carry over from F1 2025

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Why one of McLaren's world-beating strengths didn't carry over from F1 2025

How Lewis Hamilton banished his demons to win with Ferrari - "Don't forget who you are"

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
How Lewis Hamilton banished his demons to win with Ferrari - "Don't forget who you are"

Winners and losers from a cathartic Barcelona F1 Grand Prix

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Winners and losers from a cathartic Barcelona F1 Grand Prix

Franco Colapinto demoted after 10-second penalty for yellow flag breach in F1 Barcelona GP

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Franco Colapinto demoted after 10-second penalty for yellow flag breach in F1 Barcelona GP

Fred Vasseur: Lewis Hamilton would have won Barcelona GP without VSC help

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Fred Vasseur: Lewis Hamilton would have won Barcelona GP without VSC help

"Maybe the girlfriend helps" - Toto Wolff's take on Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari revival

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
"Maybe the girlfriend helps" - Toto Wolff's take on Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari revival

Lewis Hamilton's emotional message on first Ferrari F1 win: "You helped me achieve this dream"

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Lewis Hamilton's emotional message on first Ferrari F1 win: "You helped me achieve this dream"

Oscar Piastri "could not believe" Pierre Gasly’s Monaco reinstatement

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Oscar Piastri "could not believe" Pierre Gasly’s Monaco reinstatement

Fernando Alonso 'exhausted' by Aston Martin woes: "We knew we have the worst car and worst engine"

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Fernando Alonso 'exhausted' by Aston Martin woes: "We knew we have the worst car and worst engine"

Colton Herta on first F1 weekend outing: "Every part is faster than anything I've done"

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Colton Herta on first F1 weekend outing: "Every part is faster than anything I've done"

Toto Wolff speaking to Mercedes lawyers over Monaco F1 penalty precedent

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Toto Wolff speaking to Mercedes lawyers over Monaco F1 penalty precedent

McLaren, Red Bull lodge intention to appeal Pierre Gasly's right of review win

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
McLaren, Red Bull lodge intention to appeal Pierre Gasly's right of review win

F1 Barcelona GP: George Russell tops Barcelona first practice

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
F1 Barcelona GP: George Russell tops Barcelona first practice

F1 to review pitlane procedures after Pierre Gasly's Monaco GP podium reinstated

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
F1 to review pitlane procedures after Pierre Gasly's Monaco GP podium reinstated

Ferrari unleashes major Barcelona F1 upgrades as it chases down Mercedes

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Ferrari unleashes major Barcelona F1 upgrades as it chases down Mercedes

FIA stewards overturn Pierre Gasly's penalties, restore Monaco GP podium

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
FIA stewards overturn Pierre Gasly's penalties, restore Monaco GP podium

What George Russell is doing to save his spiralling 2026 F1 season

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
What George Russell is doing to save his spiralling 2026 F1 season

Pierre Gasly's Monaco GP penalty review outcome expected on Friday

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Pierre Gasly's Monaco GP penalty review outcome expected on Friday

Pirelli extends F1 tyre supply deal until 2028

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Pirelli extends F1 tyre supply deal until 2028

FOM admits error as Alpine clears first hurdle in Monaco appeal

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Monaco GP
FOM admits error as Alpine clears first hurdle in Monaco appeal

What is ADUO? How F1's engine catch-up system works, and became political

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Barcelona-Catalunya GP
What is ADUO? How F1's engine catch-up system works, and became political

Pierre Gasly calls Monaco penalty ordeal "the hardest day" of his F1 career

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Monaco GP
Pierre Gasly calls Monaco penalty ordeal "the hardest day" of his F1 career

F1 power unit changes announced for 2027 and 2028 seasons

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Monaco GP
F1 power unit changes announced for 2027 and 2028 seasons

Red Bull “surprised” by Kimi Antonelli’s “serious pace” in Monaco GP: 'He disappeared'

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Monaco GP
Red Bull “surprised” by Kimi Antonelli’s “serious pace” in Monaco GP: 'He disappeared'

Red Bull "understands" Isack Hadjar outbursts on troubled drive to Monaco F1 podium

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Monaco GP
Red Bull "understands" Isack Hadjar outbursts on troubled drive to Monaco F1 podium

Why Pierre Gasly vented his lost Monaco P3 with fake celebrations - "I knew the situation"

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Monaco GP
Why Pierre Gasly vented his lost Monaco P3 with fake celebrations - "I knew the situation"

How Kimi Antonelli “surprised” Toto Wolff to claim F1 Monaco GP grand slam

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Monaco GP
How Kimi Antonelli “surprised” Toto Wolff to claim F1 Monaco GP grand slam

Why Monaco magic is still alive and well in F1 2026

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Monaco GP
Why Monaco magic is still alive and well in F1 2026

Red Bull finds cause of Max Verstappen’s DNF, planned engine change after Monaco

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Monaco GP
Red Bull finds cause of Max Verstappen’s DNF, planned engine change after Monaco

Winners and losers from F1's Monaco Grand Prix mayhem

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Monaco GP
Winners and losers from F1's Monaco Grand Prix mayhem

ADUO shock as Red Bull has best F1 engine

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Monaco GP
ADUO shock as Red Bull has best F1 engine

How George Russell's luckless Monaco GP unravelled as F1 title deficit grows

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Monaco GP
How George Russell's luckless Monaco GP unravelled as F1 title deficit grows

Max Verstappen reveals cause of shock Monaco GP retirement: "Engine just dropped dead"

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Monaco GP
Max Verstappen reveals cause of shock Monaco GP retirement: "Engine just dropped dead"

Gabriel Bortoleto angry over costly Monaco Q1 crash: 'Why do I take that much risk?'

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Monaco GP
Gabriel Bortoleto angry over costly Monaco Q1 crash: 'Why do I take that much risk?'

Two worrying trends for George Russell as Kimi Antonelli keeps starring in F1 2026

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Monaco GP
Two worrying trends for George Russell as Kimi Antonelli keeps starring in F1 2026

“A reality check” – why Lando Norris was expecting poor Monaco qualifying

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Monaco GP
“A reality check” – why Lando Norris was expecting poor Monaco qualifying

Carlos Sainz admits Williams' 2026 slump tested his faith in the team

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Monaco GP
Carlos Sainz admits Williams' 2026 slump tested his faith in the team

McLaren floored by "one second" deficit as Lando Norris hits trouble in Monaco F1 practice

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Monaco GP
McLaren floored by "one second" deficit as Lando Norris hits trouble in Monaco F1 practice

George Russell: Monaco F1 pace shows Ferrari hype "wasn't just chat"

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Monaco GP
George Russell: Monaco F1 pace shows Ferrari hype "wasn't just chat"

Sergio Perez's F1 comeback erased his self-doubt: "I proved to myself I'm still one of the best"

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Monaco GP
Sergio Perez's F1 comeback erased his self-doubt: "I proved to myself I'm still one of the best"

F1 to stay in Las Vegas until 2037 after signing 10-year extension

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Las Vegas GP
F1 to stay in Las Vegas until 2037 after signing 10-year extension

Kimi Antonelli brushes off George Russell F1 title pressure: 'How can it be mine to lose?'

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Monaco GP
Kimi Antonelli brushes off George Russell F1 title pressure: 'How can it be mine to lose?'

"I think we'll see him this weekend" – Adrian Newey to return to F1 paddock in Monaco

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Monaco GP
"I think we'll see him this weekend" – Adrian Newey to return to F1 paddock in Monaco

Valtteri Bottas slams "b*******" Cadillac F1 exit rumours

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Monaco GP
Valtteri Bottas slams "b*******" Cadillac F1 exit rumours

Why F1's sprint format needs a shake-up

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Why F1's sprint format needs a shake-up

Lando Norris: Ferrari will be on pole for F1 Monaco GP

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Monaco GP
Lando Norris: Ferrari will be on pole for F1 Monaco GP

McLaren celebrates 1000th F1 GP in Monaco with special livery

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Monaco GP
McLaren celebrates 1000th F1 GP in Monaco with special livery

The 98-million-year-old wasp named after Oscar Piastri

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Canadian GP
The 98-million-year-old wasp named after Oscar Piastri

Mercedes pulls out of Alpine F1 share talks over asking price

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Mercedes pulls out of Alpine F1 share talks over asking price

Williams on F1 driver market: ‘Speak to Alex, speak to Carlos, they want to be here’

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Canadian GP
Williams on F1 driver market: ‘Speak to Alex, speak to Carlos, they want to be here’

"Trust us to race each other" - The message George Russell and Kimi Antonelli had for Mercedes

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Canadian GP
"Trust us to race each other" - The message George Russell and Kimi Antonelli had for Mercedes

Researchers name 98-million year old wasp species after Oscar Piastri

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Monaco GP
Researchers name 98-million year old wasp species after Oscar Piastri

Canada spectacle shows how F1 is walking regulation tightrope

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Canadian GP
Canada spectacle shows how F1 is walking regulation tightrope