Daily Mail Formula 1 journalist Jonathan McEvoy has been banned from the F1 paddock for the remainder of the 2026 season after describing Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc as a “sneaky little bastard” in a column about the controversial Mexico City Grand Prix. The FIA’s decision has sparked an angry response from the British newspaper, with former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone also condemning the punishment.
For Jonathan McEvoy, the sanction brings an abrupt interruption to a career spanning 21 years and almost 400 Grands Prix covered from inside the paddock. The controversy stems from his criticism of Charles Leclerc following the opening-lap confrontation with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton in Mexico, an incident that reignited questions about how the Maranello team manages its two drivers.
Why the FIA banned Jonathan McEvoy over his Charles Leclerc comments
The dispute began with Jonathan McEvoy’s assessment of the opening-lap battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The two Ferrari drivers made contact during their fight for position, with the seven-time world champion subsequently expressing his frustration over the incident.
The confrontation became another source of tension within Ferrari, particularly over the team’s handling of its drivers and their freedom to race each other. Jonathan McEvoy took a clear position in the disagreement, using the expression “sneaky little bastard” to describe Charles Leclerc.
The language prompted the FIA to take disciplinary action against the journalist, excluding him from the Formula 1 paddock for all remaining races of the 2026 championship.
FIA delivers immediate suspension in formal letter
The FIA’s decision was communicated in a formal letter signed by Alberto Villarreal, the governing body’s director general. The message to the Daily Mail was direct, making clear that the journalist’s language had fallen below the standards expected of accredited Formula 1 media representatives.
“The FIA considers that your article falls short of the standards of professionalism expected of media representatives accredited to cover the FIA Formula One World Championship,” the letter stated.
The governing body therefore moved directly to exclude Jonathan McEvoy from the paddock rather than issuing a formal warning. The seriousness of the complaint centred on the language used to describe Charles Leclerc and the manner in which the journalist had presented the controversy.
The decision has also brought renewed attention to the original Ferrari incident, which had already generated significant debate following the FIA’s explanation of Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty in Mexico.
Daily Mail condemns FIA decision as an attack on press freedom
The reaction from London was immediate. Chris Dean, the Daily Mail’s head of sport, strongly criticised the sanction, describing it as “an unprecedented and outrageous attack on press freedom”.
Chris Dean defended his correspondent, arguing that even particularly harsh criticism should not result in a journalist being excluded from the Formula 1 paddock for such an extended period.
“We are entering dangerous territory when the FIA reacts so heavily,” he warned.
The newspaper’s position is that the punishment goes far beyond a disagreement over the tone of a column. In its view, excluding a journalist because of the language used in an opinion piece risks creating a precedent that could eventually affect the freedom to express critical views about Formula 1 personalities and institutions.
Bernie Ecclestone calls journalist’s F1 ban absurd
To reinforce its defence of Jonathan McEvoy, the Daily Mail also highlighted the journalist’s extensive experience covering Formula 1. His 21 years in the paddock have included almost 400 Grands Prix and interviews with prominent figures such as Bernie Ecclestone, Jackie Stewart, Christian Horner and Max Verstappen.
Bernie Ecclestone, who spent decades at the centre of Formula 1’s management, also joined the criticism of the FIA’s decision: “It’s crazy. I don’t know why the FIA would do something like that. I think it’s completely absurd,” Bernie Ecclestone said.
His intervention strengthened the argument that removing an experienced journalist’s paddock access over a single expression represents an excessive response, regardless of how offensive the wording may have been considered.
Charles Leclerc controversy raises wider questions about F1 media freedom
What began as a dispute over Jonathan McEvoy’s criticism of Charles Leclerc and support for Lewis Hamilton has now developed into a wider confrontation between the FIA and one of Britain’s major newspapers.
The disagreement is no longer simply about a journalist’s assessment of a Ferrari driver or the fallout from an on-track incident. It now concerns the boundaries of acceptable language in Formula 1 journalism and the authority of the governing body to enforce professional standards through paddock accreditation.
From the FIA’s perspective, accredited media representatives are expected to maintain appropriate standards of professionalism. The Daily Mail, however, argues that imposing such a severe sanction over a particular expression risks opening the door to similar action against journalists for their opinions.
Jonathan McEvoy now finds himself at the centre of that disagreement. After 21 years reporting on Formula 1 from inside the paddock, he will have to cover the championship from outside its restricted areas for at least the remainder of the 2026 season.
For a journalist whose career has been built around direct access to Formula 1’s leading figures, the consequences are substantial. And for the sport itself, the controversy has created a debate that extends well beyond the original confrontation between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in Mexico.
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