The Daily Mail will boycott Formula One after motor racing correspondent Jonathan McEvoy was handed a draconian ban for the rest of the season by the sport’s governing body.
There will be no reporting on races or press conferences for the final three races of the 2026 season in the wake of the remarkable decision to revoke our reporter’s accreditation over an article criticising Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
McEvoy labelled the Monegasque racer a ‘sneaky little b*****d’ for his role in a contentious, opening lap collision with Scuderia teammate, Britain’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, at last month’s Mexican Grand Prix. The incident cost Ferrari a chance of a race victory.
McEvoy, who has covered nearly 400 races across 21 years of working for the Daily Mail, went on to reveal details of a tense post-race debrief between the drivers and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.
The FIA’s decision to withdraw McEvoy’s accreditation has been condemned by news industry leaders. Top drivers, past and present, as well as a host of other leading figures in the sport, have also offered their private support.
Andrew Moger, chief executive of the News Media Coalition (NMC), called on the FIA to ‘reinstate McEvoy so he can continue to do his professional best and rejoin the dedicated group of experienced journalists who serve F1, fans and the business of motor racing through their independent reporting including opinion-forming insights’.
Jonathan McEvoy has been handed a draconian ban for the rest of the season by the sport’s governing body
The NMC champions journalist access to major organised news and sports events around the world and Moger said the McEvoy case was alarming.
‘Like it or not, freedom of expression such as the ability to share viewpoints, and press freedom, remain vital to informed societies, debate and conversation – including about the behaviour of F1 drivers and evidently the sensitivity of teams’.
The Society of Editors also threw its support behind the Daily Mail, calling on the FIA to reverse its decision with immediate effect.
Chief executive Dawn Alford said: ’The FIA was wrong to withdraw Jonathan McEvoy’s accreditation. He has covered Formula One for more than 20 years. The point of an opinion column is to give readers the considered view of someone who knows the sport. He should be free to write what he thinks, even when that makes for uncomfortable reading in the paddock.
’Accreditation gives journalists the access they need to do their jobs. Using it to punish a correspondent for what he writes is an abuse of that power. It sets a precedent that should concern every journalist covering Formula One and anyone who cares about independent sports reporting.
’Formula One fans want to know what is really going on in the sport. They rely on experienced reporters to ask awkward questions and tell them plainly what they make of the answers. That coverage suffers if journalists have to think about whether their next column might cost them their pass.
‘The FIA should reverse this decision immediately and reinstate Jonathan McEvoy’s accreditation in time for the next race.’
The Daily Telegraph described the ban as ‘the latest example of the FIA’s thin-skinned and overzealous policing of the media’.
In a stinging rebuke, McEvoy suggested Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur may be behind the decision
McEvoy, pictured with George Russell, has covered nearly 400 races in 21 years working for the Daily Mail
On Thursday, FIA general manager Alberto Villarreal wrote to McEvoy to inform him of the impending ban. The letter stated: ’The FIA considers that your article falls short of the standards of professionalism expected of media representatives accredited to cover the FIA Formula One World Championship.
‘Accordingly, the FIA has decided to exercise its discretion under the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship Accreditation Guidelines to withdraw your media accreditation for the remainder of the 2026 season, with immediate effect.’
The decision was labelled as ‘crazy’ by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who added: ’I don’t know why the FIA would ever do that.
’Apart from the fact I like Jon, he is doing a fantastic job.
‘I look forward to reading what he’s writing. I don’t have to, it’s my choice to do that. I think it’s completely mad.’
Chris Dean, the Daily Mail’s head of sport, echoed those feelings in a strongly worded statement on Thursday.
He said: ’This is an unprecedented and outrageous attack on the freedom of the Press.
’We are in dangerous territory when the FIA react in such a heavy-handed way to some mild and fair criticism of one driver.
’Jonathan McEvoy is a fearless and first-rate journalist who takes readers behind the curtain of F1’s shiny exterior. The FIA should reinstate his accreditation immediately.’
The FIA’s latest attack on press freedom comes after an incident at the Japanese Grand Prix in March involving Max Verstappen and the Guardian journalist Giles Richards.
The Dutchman refused to participate in a press conference until the reporter had left the room.
It came after the final race of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi, when Richards quizzed Verstappen on whether he regretted his driving after a collision with title rival George Russell in an earlier race.
The incident cost Verstappen nine points and he went on to lose out in his quest for a fifth consecutive title to Lando Norris by two points.
