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Fury as Formula One bans Daily Mail’s award-winning Motor Racing Correspondent over column calling Ferrari driver a ‘sneaky little b*****d’

Jonathan McEvoy, the Daily Mail's long-serving and distinguished Motor Racing Correspondent, has been banned from attending the remaining races of the Formula One season.

Daily Mail

Published: Thursday, 12 November 2026 at 5:40 PM

Key Things to Know

The FIA has revoked Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy's media accreditation for the rest of the 2026 season.
The ban followed a column where McEvoy referred to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc as a 'sneaky little b*****d'.
FIA general manager Alberto Villarreal stated McEvoy's article breached professional standards expected of accredited Formula One media.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The FIA has banned Daily Mail motor racing correspondent Jonathan McEvoy from the remaining races of the 2026 Formula One season. The governing body revoked McEvoy's media accreditation after he referred to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc as a 'sneaky little b*****d' in a recent column. The FIA stated that his remarks fell short of expected professional standards.

McEvoy's column addressed a clash between Leclerc and Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Mexico Grand Prix, as well as a tense debrief with team boss Fred Vasseur. Daily Mail head of sport Chris Dean condemned the ban as an attack on press freedom, while former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone also criticized the FIA's decision.

Read the full article on Daily Mail