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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 bug-ridden Bahrain GP in Malaysia

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Winners and losers from F1's bug-ridden Bahrain GP in Malaysia

"Horrible, totally unacceptable" - Powerless F1 drivers frustrated by Bahrain F1 software glitch

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
"Horrible, totally unacceptable" - Powerless F1 drivers frustrated by Bahrain F1 software glitch

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

What's actually going on with George Russell's FIA cooling vest complaints

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
What's actually going on with George Russell's FIA cooling vest complaints

Oscar Piastri shares special McLaren moment with inspirational young fan

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Oscar Piastri shares special McLaren moment with inspirational young fan

Why extremely rough Sepang was over four seconds slower than Pirelli's F1 simulations

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Why extremely rough Sepang was over four seconds slower than Pirelli's F1 simulations

Lewis Hamilton warned, Ferrari fined for Bahrain GP impeding

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Lewis Hamilton warned, Ferrari fined for Bahrain GP impeding

Flavio Briatore moves on from Franco Colapinto crash: 'I was upset but the past is the past'

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Flavio Briatore moves on from Franco Colapinto crash: 'I was upset but the past is the past'

Fred Vasseur calls for Ferrari unity: Pointing fingers would be "big mistake"

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Fred Vasseur calls for Ferrari unity: Pointing fingers would be "big mistake"

Franco Colapinto handed extra grid penalty at F1 Bahrain GP

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Franco Colapinto handed extra grid penalty at F1 Bahrain GP

What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang

Lando Norris rues online abuse, explains Franco Colapinto apology

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Lando Norris rues online abuse, explains Franco Colapinto apology

Kimi Antonelli on the hard call that rescued his Azerbaijan GP weekend

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Kimi Antonelli on the hard call that rescued his Azerbaijan GP weekend

Lewis Hamilton hands Ferrari F1 boss Fred Vasseur strongest show of support yet

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Lewis Hamilton hands Ferrari F1 boss Fred Vasseur strongest show of support yet

George Russell details F1 drivers' Langkawi boys' trip ahead of Bahrain GP in Malaysia

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
George Russell details F1 drivers' Langkawi boys' trip ahead of Bahrain GP in Malaysia

As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?

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Azerbaijan GP
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?

Mercedes braced for tougher strategy calls as George Russell closes on Kimi Antonelli

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Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Mercedes braced for tougher strategy calls as George Russell closes on Kimi Antonelli

What's next for Williams after Baku B-spec yields mixed fortunes

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Azerbaijan GP
What's next for Williams after Baku B-spec yields mixed fortunes

Has George Russell hit his stride too late? 'With this form I would have been in the fight'

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Azerbaijan GP
Has George Russell hit his stride too late? 'With this form I would have been in the fight'

Lando Norris apologises to Franco Colapinto over F1 race ban comments

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Azerbaijan GP
Lando Norris apologises to Franco Colapinto over F1 race ban comments

Why McLaren was so much slower than Mercedes on Baku's straights

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Azerbaijan GP
Why McLaren was so much slower than Mercedes on Baku's straights

George Russell after rejuvenating Baku win: "It would have been very easy for me to lose the faith"

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Azerbaijan GP
George Russell after rejuvenating Baku win: "It would have been very easy for me to lose the faith"

Race ban talk "too harsh" on Franco Colapinto, George Russell and Max Verstappen say

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Azerbaijan GP
Race ban talk "too harsh" on Franco Colapinto, George Russell and Max Verstappen say

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