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

Todt: F1's latest shake-up is evolution, not revolution

At 80, Jean Todt still refuses to indulge in nostalgia. At Barcelona, the former Ferrari principal sees evolution, and in Antonelli, something genuinely worth...

0 comments  | 
14 Jun 2026

Starting Grid 2026 Catalunya Formula 1 Grand Prix

Event: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Track: Catalunya Circuit Warm-up lap starts at: 15:00 Local | 15:00 CET | 14:00 UK | 06:00 LA | 22:00...

0 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Qualifying Report & Results 2026 Catalunya F1 Grand Prix

Event: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Track: Catalunya Circuit Weather: dry 30°C / 87°F Tarmac: dry 49°C / 121°F Humidity: 37% Wind: 11.1 km/h North-East George...

6 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Photos of Friday before the 2026 Catalunya F1 GP

Photos of the Friday two free practice sessions before the 2026 Catalunya Grand Prix driven on the Catalunya Circuit, driven on the 12th of...

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13 Jun 2026

Third Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Catalunya F1 GP

Event: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Track: Catalunya Circuit Weather: 31°C Sunny & Dry Tarmac: 49°C Dry Humidity : 31% Wind : 8.6 km//h North-East Pressure: 1007 mbar...

1 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Verstappen brushes off Salzburg meeting talk amid Red Bull struggles

Max Verstappen’s Salzburg meeting with Red Bull’s ownership has fuelled his future rumours, but the quadruple champion has a simple response: you’ll hear it...

1 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Norris proud of title won without being the bad guy

Lando Norris says winning the F1 world championship without turning ruthless proves future champions don't have to follow the Schumacher or Verstappen template.

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13 Jun 2026

Briatore puts Alpine driver spending on ice amid Sainz links

Flavio Briatore rules out big driver spending while Alpine remains mid-field, as Carlos Sainz admits he will evaluate all his 2027 options before committing...

2 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Briatore hails 'phenomenon' Antonelli and calls out Russell

Flavio Briatore admits he 'completely underestimated' Kimi Antonelli, and has a blunt message for George Russell, who now trails by 68 championship points.

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13 Jun 2026

FIA Monaco pitlane blunder has rivals furious as protests mount

Six Monaco pitlane speeding penalties stemmed from a faulty timing sector with the wrong measurement. Red Bull, McLaren and Racing Bulls are now assessing...

5 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Barcelona on standby as F1's 2027 Plan B

Barcelona's circuit chiefs say the Catalunya track is ready to return as a 2027 Plan B should Formula 1's Middle East calendar be disrupted...

1 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Ben Sulayem champions lighter V8 F1 cars for post-2030 era

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing for lighter, louder and cheaper Formula 1 cars powered by V8 engines, with a personal target weight...

3 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Madrid under pressure as test race cancelled ahead of debut

Madrid's Madring circuit has passed its FIA inspection, but the planned test race has been cancelled and organisers admit time is tight ahead of...

1 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Red Bull challenges FIA ADUO ruling over engine development lockout

Red Bull has formally challenged the FIA's ADUO ruling that locks them out of recouping engine development time, arguing it was applied inconsistently and...

0 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Photos of Sunday 2026 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix

First Wallpaper photos of the  2026 Monaco Grand Prix driven on the Monaco Street Circuit, it was the sixth Grand Prix of the 2026 F1...

0 comments  | 
13 Jun 2026

Second Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Catalunya F1 GP

Event: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Track: Catalunya Circuit Weather: 28°C / 83°F Sunny & Dry Tarmac: 44°C / 111°C Dry Humidity : 34% Wind : 11.1...

2 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Gasly Restored To Monaco Podium

Pierre Gasly has been reinstated to third place in the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix after FIA stewards upheld Alpine’s Right of Review and rescinded...

1 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

First Free Practice Report & Results 2026 Catalunya F1 GP

Event: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Track: Catalunya Circuit Weather: 30°C Sunny & Dry Tarmac: 50°C Dry Humidity : 32% Wind : 10.0 km//h North-East Pressure: 1010...

0 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

FIA delays ADUO ruling as Red Bull challenges engine rankings

The FIA's new engine concession system hits its first political crisis: Red Bull is disputing being ranked top for combustion power, and the governing...

2 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Massa's crashgate case jumps to UK Supreme Court

Formula 1's crashgate scandal returns to court: F1, the FIA and Ecclestone have been granted direct access to the UK Supreme Court to challenge...

0 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Leclerc adopts Hamilton brake setup after Monaco fallout

Ferrari's Monaco brake controversy ends in Barcelona: Leclerc adopts Hamilton's Carbone Industrie discs after a crash-out and a public row with Brembo.

2 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

FIA to review Gasly Monaco penalty in fresh hearing

Pierre Gasly's Monaco podium may not be lost: the FIA has agreed a fresh hearing after Alpine showed the pitlane speed system overestimated his...

1 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Wurz warns Mercedes title fight will turn ugly

Alex Wurz has been here before. The GPDA chairman sees echoes of Rosberg vs Hamilton in the Antonelli-Russell dynamic, and he doubts Mercedes' peace...

1 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Alonso hints this could be his final Barcelona F1 race

Fernando Alonso is treating every race as his last at each circuit. With his contract expiring and Barcelona off the 2027 calendar, this weekend...

3 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Renault CEO rules out Horner talks and vows to retain Alpine

Alpine's ownership uncertainty hasn't loosened Renault's grip: the CEO is dismissing Horner speculation and restating that whoever replaces Otro, Renault stays in charge.

0 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Vowles confident Sainz and Albon will stay loyal to Williams

James Vowles isn't losing sleep over Sainz or Albon. His logic: the teams ahead of Williams aren't changing drivers, so there's nowhere to go,...

1 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Ferrari junior Camara threatening Ocon's Haas seat for 2027

Ferrari wants its Brazilian junior Rafael Camara in F1, and the obvious route runs through Haas, which is already squeezing Ocon on performance and...

4 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

Pirelli extends F1 tyre supply deal through 2028

An option clause in Pirelli's 2025–2027 contract has been activated, extending the Italian company's status as Formula 1's exclusive tyre supplier for a fourth...

0 comments  | 
12 Jun 2026

FIA confirms 2027 rules shift toward combustion engine power

The FIA has confirmed significant changes to its 2026 power unit framework, tilting the ICE/electric balance from 53–47 to 60–40 by 2028. Honda says...

4 comments  | 
11 Jun 2026

Verstappen holds Salzburg summit with Red Bull amid Mercedes whispers

Days after Monaco, Verstappen boarded a plane to Salzburg for talks with the Mateschitz heir and Red Bull's inner circle. The 2027 exit window...

1 comments  | 
11 Jun 2026