Top F1 journalist banned from races 'for criticising Ferrari star Charles Leclerc'

Long-time F1 journalist Jonathan McEvoy has written a scathing column in which he claims that his media accreditation has been revoked for the rest of the 2026 season.

The Daily Mail writer puts the blame for his credentials being withdrawn on Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who he calls a 'thoroughly rude individual', 'that tubby little nobody' and 'a chuckling buffoon'.

McEvoy writes that 'it seems' the Frenchman has complained about a piece that he wrote in the aftermath of the Mexico Grand Prix last month, centred around the brouhaha between Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

In that piece, broadly in favour of Hamilton's side of the incident, the veteran writer wrote: "The sophisticated Charles also happens to be a sneaky little b******."

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Daily Mail journalist speculates over Toto Wolff hand in paddock ban

In between decrying restrictions on 'freedom of the Press' and anecdotes about how well he gets on with the likes of Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo, McEvoy also speculates that Toto Wolff may be partially responsible for his temporary banishment.

In what he admits is 'pure surmise', he points to an incident from 2023 in which he says Wolff tried to get him permanently banned from attending F1 races, saying that 'they may have rejoined over a mutual enemy (me)'.

The column continues with a list of people in the sport he considers friends – including Bernie Ecclestone and his wife Fabiana, as well as Christian Horner – and a short story about George Russell giving him a pair of his sunglasses back in his Williams days.

He concludes the column: "The point is at the end of all this. I can write what I want subject to my proprietor, Lord Rothermere, my Editor and my readers, subject to the law. Whatever Fred Vasseur thinks."

GPFans has contacted Ferrari, F1 and the FIA for comment.

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