F1 journalist ban sparks backlash as FIA decision branded 'completely mad'

Bernie Ecclestone has spoken out about his friend and Daily Mail F1 journalist Jonathan McEvoy having his media accreditation removed for the last three races of the 2026 season.

The long-time paddock regular was dinged by the FIA for a column in which he called Charles Leclerc 'a sneaky little b*****d', being told that the piece 'falls short of the standards of professionalism expected of media representatives accredited to cover the FIA Formula 1 world championship'.

McEvoy revealed the news in an explosive column on the Mail's website, which saw him accuse Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur of orchestrating the ban, proceeding to launch an extraordinary personal attack on the Frenchman.

The Brit referred to Vasseur in column as 'thoroughly rude individual', 'that tubby little nobody' and 'a chuckling buffoon', and also speculated that Toto Wolff may have joined forced with the Ferrari boss to complain to the FIA.

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Long-time F1 boss Ecclestone, who McEvoy namechecks in his column as a friend, has since told the Mail: "It's crazy. I don't know why the FIA would ever do that. 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."

The Mail have announced that they will boycott coverage of the sport for the rest of the 2026 season, declining to cover any races or press conferences until the decision is reversed.

The Society of Editors and the News Media Coalition have both advocated for McEvoy's credentials to be returned immediately rather than at the end of the season, with the former's chief executive Dawn Alford calling the removal of accreditation for criticism 'an abuse of that power'.

A number of fans and even some journalists on social media have been more reluctant to take McEvoy's side in the matter, with some noting that even if the original accreditation ban was a matter of overreach by the FIA, the follow-up column full of attacks and accusations aimed at Vasseur has justified the decision.

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