Veteran and well respected Formula 1 journalist Jonathan McEvoy, who is the Daily Mail’s F1 and sports writer, has been banned by the FIA for the remainder of the 2026 season.
McEvoy discovered that his permanent media pass for 2026 had been suspended after receiving a communication from the General Manager of FIA, Alberto Villarreal Gutiérrez, and not from the President’s office or the media department as would have been more usual for matters like this
The Briton had made certain comments in a recent opinion piece for the Daily Mail with respect to Ferrari and Charles Leclerc after the Monegasque’s controversial incident with team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the recent Mexico City Grand Prix.
Writing in his weekly column for the very popular Daily Mail, McEvoy believes the ban has been initiated at the behest of the Maranello-based team.
“As set out in the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship Guidelines, media accreditation is granted at the sole discretion of the FIA and may be revoked at any time without notice. The Guidelines state that the highest standards of fairness and professionalism are expected as a minimum requirement for media accreditation,” said an FIA spokesperson.
McEvoy, therefore, will not be on the ground to cover the races at Las Vegas, Qatar and the season-finale at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
In response, the Daily Mail have shown solidarity with McEvoy, announcing a boycott from covering F1 after what they believe to be “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,” the Daily Mail’s Head of Sport Chris Dean said of the matter.
“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.”
Bernie Ecclestone voices support after Jonathan McEvoy’s F1 ban
Ecclestone, who was at the helm of the sport until handing over the reins to Liberty Media in 2017, came out in support of the veteran sports journalist.
The 96-year-old lauded McEvoy for the “fantastic” job he’s done in covering F1, and branded the move as “completely mad”.
“I don’t know why the FIA would ever do that,” Ecclestone said. “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.”
McEvoy reveals wide paddock support after FIA ban
The FIA’s decision to levy this three-race ban has divided opinions amongst the motorsport fraternity.
McEvoy revealed that in the aftermath of this decision, he has received a swarm of support.
“I have just been flattered by the messages of support I have received from friends within the sport, from current drivers and past drivers, and senior and junior figures in various capacities,” he told Motorsport Week.
McEvoy will resume his duties in the paddock as usual from the 2027 season onwards, with his accreditation set to be restored after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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