FIA suspends Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy from Formula One

Jonathan McEvoy, the Daily Mail’s motorsport correspondent for 21 years, lost his Formula One media accreditation after a column criticizing Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. The governing body barred him from attending the final three rounds of the world championship in the USA, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. McEvoy has attended more than 400 Grands Prix during his long tenure, making this sudden exclusion a stark break from his established access to the sport.

The official rationale

FIA general manager Alberto Villarreal sent a letter on Thursday confirming the suspension until the end of the 2026 season. The document stated that the article "does not meet the professional standards expected of media representatives accredited to cover the FIA Formula 1 World Championship." Villarreal exercised discretion under the 2026 Accreditation Guidelines to withdraw the pass with immediate effect. McEvoy reported that Villarreal told him in the kindest possible way that his accreditation would be reinstated at the beginning of next season. The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reportedly expressed personal regard for McEvoy despite the punitive action. According to McEvoy, the decision to restrict the ban to the current season linked to little being at stake in the closing races.

Claims and context

McEvoy alleged in a follow-up column that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur "grassed" on him and described him as a "tubby little nobody." There is no proof that Ferrari or Vasseur had anything to do with the suspension, which remains solely the FIA’s decision to revoke press passes if they feel an article is detrimental for the sport. The original piece called Leclerc a "sneaky little b*****d" following Max Verstappen’s victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. McEvoy also reported details of a tense post-race debrief with Vasseur. This incident follows an earlier move where Verstappen ordered the removal of Guardian journalist Giles Richards from a Red Bull press conference. Verstappen was unhappy Richards asked him whether he regretted colliding with George Russell during last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. These events highlight the friction between drivers and journalists covering high-stakes championships.