Daily Mail pulls F1 coverage after FIA strips reporter of media pass

The Daily Mail has announced it will boycott the final three Formula One races of the 2026 season following the FIA's revocation of veteran journalist Jonathan McEvoy's media credentials. The British newspaper cited McEvoy's opinion column as the reason for the decision, in which he criticized Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. McEvoy, who has covered F1 for over two decades, learned on Thursday that his accreditation had been withdrawn.

The controversy stems from an incident at the Mexico City Grand Prix where Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton collided, resulting in Leclerc receiving a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off the track. The FIA defended its decision, citing McEvoy's column as not meeting the standards of professionalism expected from accredited journalists.

The Society of Editors also condemned the decision, arguing that withdrawing accreditation over published criticism threatens independent sports journalism. McEvoy suggested that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur may have prompted the FIA's decision, but a Ferrari source denied this. Despite the controversy, McEvoy was reportedly told his accreditation would be reinstated for the following season, though the FIA has not publicly confirmed this.