Author Profile: Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

F1 Journalist

29987 published articles
31 Aug 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: Hamilton could stay at Ferrari beyond 2027 as Bearman waits

Paul Monaghan 2024 Beyond the Grid Legends Podcast Interview

Join us as we dive into an exclusive conversation with Paul Monaghan, the chief engineer at Red Bull Racing who has been instrumental in...

0 comments  | 
7 Aug 2024

F1 Nation: 2024 Hungarian F1 GP Review Podcast

In this episode, recorded live from the Budapest paddock, Tom Clarkson is joined by ESPN journalist Albert Fabrega to break down the thrilling Hungarian...

0 comments  | 
7 Aug 2024

Verstappen's Sim Racing Ban: Marko Clarifies It's Just a Suggestion

Aug.6 - Red Bull's ban on late-night sim racing sessions for Max Verstappen during Formula 1 race weekends is actually just a "recommendation". That's...

17 comments  | 
6 Aug 2024

Victory for Monza: Meets F1 Deadline and Eyes 2026 Success

Aug.6 - Italian GP officials are confident they are heading down the road towards a new Formula 1 race deal. La Gazzetta dello Sport...

4 comments  | 
6 Aug 2024

Bayer Backs Ricciardo and Sees Long-Term Role at Red Bull

Aug.5 - RB CEO Peter Bayer insists Daniel Ricciardo still fits into the "big picture" at the Faenza based 'junior' team. F1 team consultant...

4 comments  | 
5 Aug 2024

Is Red Bull’s Leadership Exodus Threatening Their F1 Dominance?

Aug.2 - "Is the Red Bull team falling apart?" That's how one publication summed up Thursday's shock news that long-time team manager and sporting...

1 comments  | 
2 Aug 2024

Renault's F1 Future in Jeopardy: Alpine Faces Potential Exit?

Aug.1 - Gerard Larrousse, a Formula 1 legend, thinks Renault might be clearing the path to withdraw from the sport altogether. The management turmoil...

3 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

New F1 Proposal: More Free Practice for Young Drivers in 2025

Jul.31 - Formula 1 is considering how to open up more opportunities for rookie drivers, according to mounting reports. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims...

3 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

Ocon Joins Haas: Trust Tested & Tensions High?

Jul.31 - Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu has defended his decision to sign the talented but controversial Esteban Ocon for 2025. The move ousts...

1 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

Zandvoort Denies Spa Deal: Dutch GP Risks After 2025

Jul.31 - The boss of the Dutch GP has denied reports suggesting a deal to annually alternate the grands prix at Zandvoort and Spa-Francorchamps...

3 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

Vowles Urges Sargeant to Prove Worth as Antonelli Waits in Wings

Jul.31 - James Vowles is not ruling out a driver change at Williams even before the 2024 season is complete. The team boss this...

5 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

Ricciardo and Perez Safe: Red Bull Holds Off Midseason Shuffle

Jul.31 - Daniel Ricciardo can join Sergio Perez in breathing a sigh of relief this week, with Red Bull deciding against changing its Formula...

1 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

Sainz Joins Williams Amid Speculation of Strategic Exit Options

Jul.31 - James Vowles is not confirming suggestions that Carlos Sainz's newly-signed contract with Williams contains a series of unique exit clauses. With Ferrari...

1 comments  | 
1 Aug 2024

Sainz Secures Long-Term Deal with Williams Amid F1 Speculation

Jul.30 - Carlos Sainz has behaved impeccably amid intense and protracted speculation about his next move in Formula 1, team boss Frederic Vasseur insists....

2 comments  | 
30 Jul 2024

Perez Retains Red Bull Seat After Summer Break

Jul.30 - Sergio Perez will still be a Red Bull driver after Formula 1's August summer break. Ahead of decision-makers Dr Helmut Marko and...

7 comments  | 
30 Jul 2024

Sainz Denies Williams Deal, Vowles Confident for 2025

Jul.29 - Carlos Sainz has denied reports that he has now signed with Williams for 2025 - although the Oxfordshire-based team's boss sounds very...

7 comments  | 
29 Jul 2024

Russell's Belgium DSQ: First Theories and Insights

Jul.29 - The theories are emerging about how Mercedes could have given George Russell an illegally underweight car en route to victory in Belgium....

5 comments  | 
29 Jul 2024

Race Report & Results 2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Belgian Grand Prix Track: Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Weather: dry  21.1°C Tarmac: dry  41.5°C Humidity : 49% Wind : 9.7 km/h South Lewis Hamilton won...

17 comments  | 
28 Jul 2024

F1 Quali Results & Report 2024 Belgian Grand Prix

Event: Belgian Grand Prix Track: Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Weather: wet/  19°C Tarmac: wet/  25°C Humidity : 91% Wind : 5 km/h W Charles Leclerc scored...

1 comments  | 
27 Jul 2024

Third Free Practice Report & Results 2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Belgian Grand Prix Track: Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Weather: wet  18.0°C Tarmac: wet  22.0°C Humidity : 93% Wind : 4.3 km/h South FP3 Times Table...

0 comments  | 
27 Jul 2024

Vasseur Defends Leclerc Amid Ferrari Instability and Struggles

Jul.27 - Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has continued to defend Charles Leclerc. It is Carlos Sainz, rather than Leclerc, who is being ousted at...

4 comments  | 
27 Jul 2024

Second Free Practice Report & Results 2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Belgian Grand Prix Track: Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Weather: dry  21.8°C Tarmac: dry  35.2°C Humidity : 64% Wind : 4.6 km/h South FP2 Times Table...

0 comments  | 
26 Jul 2024

First Free Practice Report & Results 2023 Belgian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Belgian Grand Prix Track: Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Weather: dry  21.7°C Tarmac: dry  38.5°C Humidity : 60% Wind : 10.0 km/h South The quickest lap...

0 comments  | 
26 Jul 2024

Red Bull Bans Verstappen's Late-Night Sim Racing After Hungary

Jul.25 - Red Bull will put a stop to Max Verstappen's habit of staying up late for sim racing during Formula 1 race weekends....

1 comments  | 
25 Jul 2024

Sauber Struggles: Audi's Billion-Dollar Blunder and Leadership Shifts

Jul.25 - Ralf Schumacher admits he already has concerns about how Audi is going about tackling its entry into Formula 1. The VW-linked German...

3 comments  | 
25 Jul 2024

Marko Addresses Verstappen's Anger Amid Red Bull Team Woes

Jul.24 - Declining car performance aside, Red Bull F1 advisor Dr Helmut Marko admits a new priority at the team is to end Max...

4 comments  | 
24 Jul 2024

Alpine Front-Runner for Carlos Sainz Amid 2025 F1 Turmoil

Jul.22 - The crisis-struck Alpine team has emerged as the clear frontrunner to secure Carlos Sainz's signature for the 2025 season. The Spaniard, still...

2 comments  | 
23 Jul 2024

Verstappen's Latest 'Bad Boy' Moment: Temporary Setback

Jul.23 - Just as Red Bull's internal leadership power struggle and internal conflict looked settled, Max Verstappen has thrown a big spanner in the...

6 comments  | 
23 Jul 2024

F1 Debate Erupts After McLaren's Controversial 1-2 Finish

Jul.22 - A milestone 1-2 victory for McLaren in Hungary ended in high controversy, after Lando Norris admits almost rejecting a repeated team order...

5 comments  | 
23 Jul 2024

Race Report & Results 2024 Hungarian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Hungarian F1 Grand Prix Track: Hungaroring circuit Weather: dry  28.5-30.2°C Tarmac: dry  43.6-48.2°C Humidity : 47-44% Wind : 4.6-2.8 km/h South Oscar Piastri...

8 comments  | 
21 Jul 2024