Author Profile: Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

F1 Journalist

30356 published articles
16 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: Court order pulls Mercedes into Antonelli's contract fight

Sprint Starting Grid 2026 Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix

Event: Dutch Grand Prix Track: Circuit Zandvoort Warm-up lap starts at: 12:00 Local | 12:00 CET | 11:00 UK | 03:00 LA | 19:00...

1 comments  | 
22 Aug 2026

Sprint Qualifying Results & Report 2026 Dutch F1 Grand Prix

Event: Dutch Grand Prix Track: Circuit Zandvoort Weather: Partly Cloudy & dry 20°C Tarmac: dry 19°C Humidity: 31% Wind: 8.2 km/h South East Pressure:...

4 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

First Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Dutch F1 Grand Prix

Event: Dutch Grand Prix Track: Circuit Zandvoort Weather: dry  19°C Tarmac: dry  29°C Humidity : 63% Wind : 10.8 km/h North West Pressure: 1010mb...

0 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Aston Martin Lands New Investor as Alonso Future Looms

A new board member, an upgraded engine and a two-time champion who won't say how many years he has left: Aston Martin's Thursday in...

1 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Hamilton Set to Extend Ferrari Deal Before Monza?

No confirmation yet, but two separate reports now say the same thing: Lewis Hamilton isn't going anywhere. Lewis Hamilton is expected to extend his...

1 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Verstappen Admits He Considered Quitting F1 & Not Red Bull

The question was never whether Max Verstappen would leave Red Bull. It was whether he'd still want to race in Formula 1 at all....

0 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Cadillac Denies F1 Sale Talk as Drivers Back Shake-Up

A federal investigation into its owner's business empire was enough to start the rumours. Cadillac needed a spokesman and both its drivers to shut...

0 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Hadjar Sidelined as Lawson Steps Into Red Bull Seat

A summer training injury has already reshuffled two cars on the grid, and nobody yet knows for how long. Red Bull still does not...

1 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

F1 Delays Qatar & Abu Dhabi Call Until Mid-September

The WEC has already pulled its season finale out of the Middle East. Formula 1 says it isn't ready to make that call yet,...

2 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Colapinto Admits He's Conflicted Over Alpine's Upgrade Call

If his teammate's new upgrade flies, it's good news for Alpine and bad optics for him. Franco Colapinto isn't pretending otherwise. Franco Colapinto admits...

0 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Sainz Commits to Williams Despite 'Flawed' Car

He just signed on for more of it. Carlos Sainz still thinks this year's Williams is fundamentally flawed, and he's staying anyway. Carlos Sainz...

1 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Antonelli Accepts Monza Penalty to Protect Title Lead

Fifty points clear at the top, Kimi Antonelli didn't need to say yes to a grid penalty at his home race. He said yes...

1 comments  | 
21 Aug 2026

Max Verstappen Extends Red Bull Contract Until 2030

Max Verstappen has ended months of speculation over his Formula 1 future by signing a new deal with Red Bull Racing that will keep...

3 comments  | 
20 Aug 2026

Wolff Backs Return to V8s Despite Mercedes' Engine Edge

Toto Wolff says Mercedes' early advantage under Formula 1's new power unit rules doesn't mean he wants the current engine formula to stick around,...

1 comments  | 
20 Aug 2026

Honda Reveals Spec 2 Power Unit Ahead of Zandvoort

Honda has revealed the technical details behind its new 'Spec 2' power unit, which debuts with Aston Martin at this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix...

2 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

Sainz Re-Signs at Williams, Securing Full 2027 Line-Up

Williams has locked down the other half of its 2027 line-up, with Carlos Sainz signing a multi-year extension just hours after teammate Alex Albon...

3 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

McLaren, Red Bull Take Gasly Monaco Case to FIA Court

McLaren, Red Bull Take Gasly Monaco Case to FIA Court McLaren and Red Bull will take Formula 1's controversial Monaco pit lane penalty case...

1 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

FIA Clears F1's 'Macarena' Wing After Safety Review

Two scary Max Verstappen crashes put Formula 1's rotating rear wing under the microscope, now the FIA has delivered its verdict, and the paddock's...

0 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

Hadjar Set to Miss Dutch GP & Lawson Returns to Red Bull?

A gym-session wrist injury could hand Liam Lawson an unexpected route back into Red Bull's senior team, just as Zandvoort prepares to host its...

1 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

Ukraine Now Appeals FIA's Russian Reinstatement Decision

Ukraine is taking its objection to the FIA's reinstatement of Russian and Belarusian competitors straight to the top, formally appealing a decision it says...

1 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

Honda Now Targets F1's Best Engine by 2028

Honda isn't just chasing incremental gains anymore — its own chief engineer is putting a date on when the Japanese manufacturer expects to have...

1 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

Albon Re-Signs at Williams as Sainz Decision Nears

Williams has locked down one half of its 2027 line-up, and team boss James Vowles is framing it as proof the team's long rebuild...

2 comments  | 
19 Aug 2026

Honda Chief Admits F1 Staff Fell Short Last Year

Honda's chief engineer says the manufacturer's own personnel were not yet good enough for Formula 1 last year, confirming criticism first raised by Adrian...

1 comments  | 
18 Aug 2026

Hamilton Rallies Ferrari's Troops as Title Gap Closes

Lewis Hamilton says he wants to rally the entire Ferrari factory behind a title push, with the team closing in on Mercedes as Formula...

1 comments  | 
18 Aug 2026

Binotto: Audi Still Chasing Ferrari's 1995 Blueprint

Audi team principal Mattia Binotto says the works squad's current state reminds him of the Ferrari he joined three decades ago, as the German...

1 comments  | 
18 Aug 2026

F1 Revenue Drops 38% as 2026 Season Now Shrinks to 23 Races

Formula 1's growth story just hit a very real financial pothole. Liberty Media's latest numbers reveal exactly how much the chaotic 2026 F1 calendar...

3 comments  | 
18 Aug 2026

Madrid F1 Circuit Clears FIA Test Before September Debut

Months of doubt over whether Madrid's ambitious new circuit would be ready in time are finally giving way to confidence - the track is...

0 comments  | 
18 Aug 2026

How F1 Fans Make Every Race Weekend Gap Count

The timing screen disappears, the pit lane falls quiet and the next meaningful Formula 1 session is still hours away. That pause is not...

0 comments  | 
17 Aug 2026

Ferrari Rolls Out New Zandvoort Floor & Engine Fix Next

Ferrari will emerge from the summer break with another major development push, beginning with a new floor at Zandvoort before its anticipated 'ADUO2' engine...

1 comments  | 
17 Aug 2026

Antonelli Rated F1's Best Driver & Stroll as Worst

Auto Motor und Sport's mid-season driver ranking has crowned Kimi Antonelli as Formula 1's standout performer of the first half, while Lance Stroll was...

0 comments  | 
17 Aug 2026