Daily Mail BOYCOTTS F1 coverage after journalist banned by FIA

The Daily Mail says it will boycott coverage of F1 for the final three races of 2026 in protest at the ban imposed on its journalist Jonathan McEvoy.

Long-time Mail motorsport correspondent McEvoy had his media accreditation revoked for the upcoming races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi after writing a column in which he described Ferrari star Charles Leclerc as 'a sneaky little b******'.

After the decision, made by F1's governing body the FIA, McEvoy reacted furiously in another outspoken column late on Thursday, in which he was highly critical of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

Now, 24 hours on, his paper has escalated the situation significantly by announcing it will not report on races or press conferences for the remainder of the season.

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Daily Mail announces F1 boycott

The paper announced: "The Daily Mail will boycott Formula One after motor racing correspondent Jonathan McEvoy was handed a draconian ban for the rest of the season by the sport’s governing body.

"There will be no reporting on races or press conferences for the final three races of the 2026 season in the wake of the remarkable decision to revoke our reporter’s accreditation over an article criticising Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc."

The article continued: "The FIA’s decision to withdraw McEvoy’s accreditation has been condemned by news industry leaders. Top drivers, past and present, as well as a host of other leading figures in the sport, have also offered their private support."

'Outrageous attack on the freedom of the Press'

Chris Dean, the Daily Mail’s head of sport, had already released a strongly-worded statement in response to the ban imposed on McEvoy.

He said: "This is 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.

"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."

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