Author Profile: Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

F1 Journalist

30348 published articles
15 Oct 2026 latest publication

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

Latest story: Ferrari Protégé Rafael Câmara Secures Haas F1 Seat for 2027

Is Raikkonen's young son now heading into Red Bull's academy?

Robin Raikkonen is 11, was pictured in Verstappen's car at Monza, and is reportedly close to joining Red Bull's junior programme. An announcement is...

1 comments  | 
7 Sep 2026

Verstappen now backs off as Red Bull car keeps breaking

Red Bull's reliability troubles have worn Verstappen down to the point where he now lifts rather than risk a car he no longer trusts,...

0 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

FIA court now defends judges after Briatore attack

A public row over judicial independence has forced the FIA's appeal court into a rare formal defence, days after Briatore named one of its...

1 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Russell says his Antonelli bond has changed this season

Two Mercedes drivers who once shared everything now keep their distance, and Russell is candid about how a live title fight has reshaped life...

1 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Ocon still finds his Haas different before 2027 call

The gap between the two Haas cars is back at the worst possible moment for Ocon, whose seat is being chased by four drivers...

2 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Alonso already looks to 2027 as Honda still lags

Aston Martin has found its chassis but not its power, and Alonso is no longer pretending this season matters, with Monza turning into a...

1 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Schumacher becomes an everyday Russian word for speed

Three decades after he first pulled on Ferrari red, Schumacher's name has been formally entered into a Russian dictionary as a byword for driving...

1 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Race Report & Results 2026 Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix Track: Monza Circuit Weather: Dry & Sunny 33°C  / 91.4°F Tarmac: Dry 52°C / 125.6°F Humidity : 37% Wind :...

3 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Can Gasly still convert his first Monza pole on Sunday?

Alpine's first pole in 16 years arrived at the one circuit where its low-drag car finally made sense, but the pundits doubt the tyres...

1 comments  | 
6 Sep 2026

Starting Grid 2026 Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix Track: Monza Circuit Formation lap starts at: 15:00 Local | 15:00 CEST | 14:00 UK | 06:00 LA | 22:00...

1 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Qualifying Report & Results 2026 Italian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix Track: Monza Circuit Weather: Clear & Sunny  34°C / 93.2°F Tarmac: Dry  52°C / 125.6°F Humidity : 34% Wind : 6.1 km/h...

2 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Third Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Italian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix Track: Monza Circuit Weather: Clear & Sunny  32°C / 89,6°F Tarmac: Dry  54°C / 129,2°F Humidity : 41% Wind : 1.8 km/h...

1 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Our Sunday Rituals: Ferrari Celebrating Michael Schumacher in Monza

To celebrate his legacy, Scuderia Ferrari HP returns to the Temple of Speed with a special livery and race suits inspired by Michael, honouring...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Alpine now hints at a further fight after Monaco ruling

Gasly says he was robbed at Monaco and Briatore has questioned a judge's McLaren links. Alpine will not say whether the fight now goes...

2 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Vowles now rates Sainz above Hamilton on data

Williams has stopped pretending 2026 can be rescued, so Sainz spent Friday at Monza testing next year's ideas instead. Vowles rates his engineering feedback...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Ferrari closes the gap but Mercedes still leads on straights

Ferrari's new engine has narrowed the gap at Monza, yet Hamilton still lost six tenths to Russell on the straights alone. Vasseur says the...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Ocon left behind as Haas gives Bearman the new engine

Haas received a single latest-spec Ferrari engine for the fastest track of the year and handed it to Bearman. Ocon, whose seat is under...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Hadjar now set to miss a third straight race

Three races missed and counting. Mekies concedes Madrid is probably too soon for Hadjar's wrist, and says Red Bull will not gamble with the...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Piastri stays calm as F1 contracts keep getting longer

Verstappen and Norris are tied down for years, yet Piastri's own deal runs out sooner. The Australian argues that no contract in F1 is...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Aston Martin still backs Honda after another hard weekend

Another power-hungry weekend has exposed Honda's Spec 2 shortfall, but Cardile refuses to call the works deal a mistake. Every part of next year's...

1 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Vowles warns Madrid could become a car-wrecking track

Nineteen red flags, three broken chassis and six broken suspensions in an F3 test. Vowles is watching Madrid’s banking closely, and he is not...

1 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Milan now hosts F1's three-day 2027 season launch

Milan gets a three-day launch, Monza gets a Sprint and Antonelli is pulling in a younger crowd. Domenicali also left the door ajar for...

1 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Mercedes already backs an 11-year-old Italian karter

An 11-year-old karting champion stood in the Mercedes garage at Monza wearing team colours. Wolff has signed him already, and Hamilton says Antonelli is...

0 comments  | 
5 Sep 2026

Photos of Friday Practice before the 2026 Italian F1 GP

Photos of the Friday two free practice sessions before the 2026 Italian Grand Prix driven on the Monza circuit, driven on the 4th of...

2 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026

Second Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Italian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix Track: Monza Circuit Weather: Clear & Sunny  34°C / 93.2°F Tarmac: Dry  53°C / 127.4°F Humidity : 28% Wind : 3.6 km/h...

1 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026

First Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Italian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Italian Grand Prix Track: Monza Circuit Weather: Clear & Sunny  32°C / 89,6°F Tarmac: Dry  53°C / 127.4°F Humidity : 37% Wind : 3.6 km/h...

1 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026

Risk Management in F1: Where the Limits of Tactics and Luck Lie

At first glance, Formula 1 seems like a perfectly calculated sport. Every lap, every pit stop, every tyre change follows a precise strategy. But...

0 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026

Verstappen still disputes the FIA's latest engine verdict

Twice the FIA has called Red Bull-Ford the benchmark, and twice that verdict has cost the team upgrade tokens. Verstappen says the reality at...

0 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026

Alonso still keeps his 2027 future open at Aston

Aston Martin says there is no rush and no doubt. Alonso, at 45, is quieter about it, and what he is really waiting for...

1 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026

F1 races get shorter next year as engines struggle

Monza was meant to be a festival of speed. Instead the 2026 engine rules will have drivers lifting early, and from 2027 every Grand...

3 comments  | 
4 Sep 2026