FIA withdraws Daily Mail reporter's F1 accreditation for 2026

The FIA has withdrawn the paddock pass of Daily Mail F1 correspondent Jonathan McEvoy for the remainder of the 2026 season, with immediate effect. The governing body said an opinion column about tensions at Ferrari fell short of the professionalism expected of accredited media, following criticism of Charles Leclerc after the Mexico Grand Prix.

The Daily Mail's head of sport, Chris Dean, called the decision an unprecedented attack on press freedom, arguing that the criticism of one driver was mild and fair. Bernie Ecclestone also criticised the move, saying he could not understand why the FIA would take such action.

The decision follows a warning from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last month that journalists could be banned under the federation's campaign against online abuse.