Source: Official Team Post via X
FIA Bars Journalist from F1 Paddock Over Ferrari Dispute, Daily Mail Protests
Veteran journalist Jonathan McEvoy has been banned from the F1 paddock following remarks about Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. In response, the Daily Mail has announced a boycott of F1 coverage for the season's final races.
Jonathan McEvoy, a seasoned Formula 1 journalist, finds himself out of the paddock for the final three races of the 2026 season. The Daily Mail, where McEvoy pens his columns, has decided to boycott F1 coverage in response, calling the ban ‘draconian’. The controversy traces back to McEvoy's comments on Charles Leclerc, which seemingly rubbed Ferrari the wrong way.
McEvoy's accreditation was revoked after he criticized Leclerc in a piece written between the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix. The incident in question involved a first-lap clash in Mexico City between Leclerc and his teammate Lewis Hamilton, which stirred tensions until a discussion at Interlagos settled matters.
The FIA, in their defense, pointed to their guidelines, which allow them to grant or revoke media accreditation at their discretion. They expect the highest standards of fairness and professionalism from accredited journalists.
The Daily Mail’s head of sport, Chris Dean, described the ban as an assault on press freedom, stating, "We are in dangerous territory when the FIA react in such a heavy-handed way to some mild and fair criticism of one driver." He urged the FIA to reinstate McEvoy, praising him as a fearless journalist.
Adding his voice to the fray, former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone expressed disbelief at the FIA's decision, calling McEvoy a fantastic journalist whose work he enjoys reading.
As McEvoy's ban makes waves, the F1 calendar continues. The next stop is Las Vegas, followed by races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Mercedes has already secured the Constructors' and Drivers' titles, though George Russell is still battling Max Verstappen for second in the Drivers' Championship, trailing by 17 points.