Author Profile: Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

Leopold Pleijsier

F1 Journalist

30381 published articles
21 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: Norris Reveals Why McLaren's 2026 F1 Car Is Mentally Exhausting

Red Bull's Adrian Newey wants to manage as little as possible

Adrian Newey has revealed a secret of his success at Red Bull -- the team lets him get on with the job of designing...

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8 Feb 2013

Meet Nico Hülkenberg - Sauber F1 Team

Meet Nico Hülkenberg! We asked Nico about his thoughts on the upcoming season. This is what he told us.

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8 Feb 2013

Meet Esteban Gutiérrez - Sauber F1 Team

Meet Esteban Gutiérrez! We asked Esteban about his thoughts on the upcoming season. This is what he told us.

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8 Feb 2013

James Rossiter hits mechanic in Jerez F1 pitstop

James Rossiter, Force India's simulator driver, crashed into a mechanic on Thursday morning at Jerez. The 29-year-old Briton, with F1 experience under his belt...

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7 Feb 2013

Felipe Massa quick with Ferrari F138 on F1 wintertest at Jerez day 3

Today on the 3rd day of the 4 days Jerez F1 wintertesting in Spain, Felipe Massa sets very quick lap times on the timesheets...

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7 Feb 2013

Lewis Hamilton disappointed about Mercedes F1 wintertesting day 2

Lewis Hamilton proved his dedication to Mercedes on Wednesday by revealing he gave his legs a deliberate "thump" when his rear brakes failed at...

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7 Feb 2013

2013 Williams FW35 F1 car has vanity panel on nose

The FW35 is yet to see the light of day, but it will almost certainly feature a 'vanity panel' rather than a stepped nose....

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7 Feb 2013

F1 wintertesting at Jerez circuit empty without Ferando Alonso

Jerez is struggling without Spanish hero Fernando Alonso. The 2012 runner-up and Ferrari driver elected to sit out the opening test of the pre-season...

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7 Feb 2013

Grosjean not targeting 2013 F1 drivers championship title

After Jenson Button stunned his rivals with the pace of the new McLaren on Tuesday, Lotus' Romain Grosjean went quicker still as a second...

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7 Feb 2013

Gerhard Berger backs sweeping Mercedes F1 team changes

Gerhard Berger has backed the recent sweeping management changes at Mercedes. Since the end of the 2012 season, Norbert Haug has been ousted, Lewis...

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7 Feb 2013

Marussia confirms Luiz Razia for 2013 F1 season

Marussia on Wednesday finally confirmed reports Luiz Razia has completed the team's 2013 race driver lineup. The 23-year-old Brazilian, runner-up in last year's GP2...

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7 Feb 2013

Whitmarsh tried to keep Heikki Kovalainen on F1 grid

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has admitted to trying to keep Heikki Kovalainen on the F1 grid. Finn Kovalainen, a McLaren driver in 2008 and...

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7 Feb 2013

Next Red Bull young driver talent pushing for Toro Rosso F1 seat

Portugal's Antonio Felix da Costa is knocking on the door at Toro Rosso. That is the admission of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, who like Daniel...

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7 Feb 2013

Ross Brawn wants testing for 2014 turbo V6 F1 engines

Ross Brawn is calling for F1's engine suppliers to be allowed to do some early testing ahead of the 2014 season. The Mercedes team...

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7 Feb 2013

Bernie Ecclestone summons small F1 teams for meeting in London

Bernie Ecclestone has summoned the chiefs of F1's smallest teams to his London headquarters. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said representatives of Marussia, Caterham,...

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7 Feb 2013

Lewis Hamilton crashes new Mercedes W04 F1 car

On his first day of official running in 2013, Lewis Hamilton crashed the new Mercedes. The 2008 world champion had done a few filming...

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6 Feb 2013

Presentation of the Sauber C32-Ferrari (HD)

The Sauber F1 Team presented the Sauber C32-Ferrari on Saturday, 2nd February 2013 in Hinwil, Switzerland. Watch the presentation in HD! How do you...

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6 Feb 2013

Jenson Button stuns F1 rivals with Jerez wintertest pace

Jenson Button and McLaren have fired the opening salvo of the 2013 world championship, stunning rivals with the pace of the new MP4-28 at...

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6 Feb 2013

Brighter Caterham sparks first F1 controversy of 2013

When Caterham unveiled its 2013 car in the Jerez pitlane early on Tuesday, observers immediately spotted the 'step' nose and a new, brighter livery....

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6 Feb 2013

Cosworth not as good as Mercedes, Ferrari - Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg is well placed to comment on the respective strengths and weaknesses of most of the current engine suppliers in F1. When he...

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6 Feb 2013

Toro Rosso F1 duo in running for Webber Red Bull seat?

Jean-Eric Vergne has revealed he is still in the running to move up to Red Bull's championship-winning team in 2014. The Frenchman, who last...

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6 Feb 2013

2013 interview Lewis Hamilton launch Mercedes W04 F1 car

Lewis talks about what he thinks of the new car what is he up to upcoming weeks.

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6 Feb 2013

Pirelli wants new five-year F1 tyre contract

Paul Hembery, Pirelli's F1 boss, has revealed the Italian tyre supplier is pushing for a longer-term contract beyond 2013. Recently, the FIA has been...

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6 Feb 2013

Ron Dennis is fine with defectors who don't bleed McLaren F1

Ron Dennis has declared defiantly that McLaren can thrive without those who do not bleed 'rocket red' blood. Still the 'supremo' of the entire...

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6 Feb 2013

Ecclestone confirms only 19 races for 2013

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that F1's 2013 schedule will feature only 19 rounds. Until New Jersey's demise, this year's calendar was set to have...

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6 Feb 2013

Bruno Senna swaps F1 for Le Mans racing in 2013

Bruno Senna is bowing out of formula one. Despite hoping to find a new seat after being replaced at Williams by Valtteri Bottas, the...

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6 Feb 2013

HD pictures 2013 F1 Wintertest Jerez day 1

Today the newly introduced 2013 f1 cars made their fist laps on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. Jenson Button came out...

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5 Feb 2013

2013 official F1 test in Jerez started

The teams get their first taste of Pirelli’s 2013 F1 tyres at the opening official test of the year at Jerez in southern Spain,...

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5 Feb 2013

HD pictures 2013 Launch Caterham CT03 F1 car

Caterham CT03 HD pictures and wallpapers of the today launched F1 car. The car will be driven by Giedo van der Garde and Charles...

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5 Feb 2013

2013 F1 Launch Mercedes W04 car event

See the complete unveiling of the 2013 Mercedes W04 F1 car.

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5 Feb 2013