Daily Mail to Boycott Final Three F1 Races After FIA Withdraws Journalist’s Accreditation

The Daily Mail will boycott the final three races of the 2026 Formula One season after the sport’s governing body, the FIA, withdrew the media accreditation of veteran journalist Jonathan McEvoy following an opinion column criticising Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

The British newspaper announced on Friday that it would not cover the Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, including race events and news conferences, in protest against the decision.

McEvoy, who has reported on Formula One for more than 20 years, was informed on Thursday that his accreditation had been withdrawn. The move followed a column published on November 4 in which he described Leclerc as a “sneaky little bastard”.

The comments related to an opening-lap incident at the Mexico City Grand Prix involving Leclerc and his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton. Both drivers went off the track while competing for the lead at Turn 4. Leclerc crossed the grass and rejoined ahead, while Max Verstappen passed Hamilton to take second place.

Leclerc was subsequently handed a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track.

The FIA defended its action, saying McEvoy’s article fell short of the professional standards expected of journalists holding its accreditation. It said its media guidelines permitted credentials to be withdrawn without prior notice.

The governing body also stressed that the decision did not prevent the Daily Mail from sending another reporter to cover the remaining races.

Daily Mail head of sport Chris Dean described the move as an “unprecedented and outrageous attack on the freedom of the Press” and called for McEvoy’s accreditation to be restored.

In a later column, McEvoy suggested that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had influenced the FIA’s decision. However, a source at Ferrari told The Athletic that Vasseur had not filed a complaint against the journalist.

The Society of Editors also criticised the FIA’s decision on Friday, warning that withdrawing media access over published criticism could undermine independent sports journalism.

The dispute has raised questions about the relationship between sporting authorities and journalists who report on the sport, particularly when coverage includes strong opinions about drivers, teams and officials.

McEvoy said he had been told that his accreditation would be reinstated for the 2027 season. The FIA had not publicly confirmed that arrangement by Friday.

The Daily Mail’s boycott means it will not provide coverage from the final three rounds of the season, extending the dispute beyond the withdrawal of one journalist’s credentials.