The FIA revoked Jonathan McEvoy’s press pass after the journalist criticized Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, DIE WELT reported.
Daily Mail boycotts final three races
“The Daily Mail will boycott Formula 1 after motorsport correspondent Jonathan McEvoy was hit with a draconian reporting ban by the sport’s governing body for the remainder of the season,” the newspaper said.
The publication announced it will skip coverage of races and press conferences for the final three rounds of the championship. Chris Dean, sport chief of the Daily Mail, called the decision “an unprecedented and outrageous attack on freedom of the press.”
The FIA has banned reporter Jonathan McEvoy from covering the final three F1 races of the 2026 season after he called Charles Leclerc a “sneaky little b—–d” in an article, per @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/sGB43veyOj
The remark that triggered the penalty
McEvoy applied the label “sneaky little bastard” to Leclerc following a first-lap collision at the Mexico City Grand Prix involving Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton. The reporter covered nearly 400 Formula 1 races over 21 years for the publication and also detailed a tense post-race debrief involving the drivers and team principal Fred Vasseur.
News Media Coalition demands reinstatement
The News Media Coalition urged the FIA to reinstate McEvoy so he can resume independent coverage for fans and the motorsport industry. Andrew Moger, executive director of the NMC, said that freedom of expression and press freedom remain essential for informed societies and debates regarding the behavior of drivers and the sensitivity of teams.
Next steps on the Formula 1 calendar
The FIA and Formula 1 head into the final three races of the season without the accredited presence of the British daily’s long-serving motorsport correspondent.
Worth a look
