Banned F1 journalist claims Toto Wolff tried to have him barred 'for life'

The allegation comes from Jonathan McEvoy, the Daily Mail's long-serving F1 correspondent, whose media accreditation was recently withdrawn by the FIA for the remainder of the 2026 season following a controversial opinion column about Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

McEvoy has now revisited an incident involving Wolff three years ago, claiming the Mercedes boss personally approached FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in an attempt to prevent him from attending another Grand Prix.

The journalist also raised questions about whether his previous disagreements with senior figures in the paddock could have played a role in his latest suspension, although he acknowledged that he had no evidence to support such a connection.

Writing in the Daily Mail, McEvoy recalled his confrontation with Wolff during the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023, when the opening practice session was abandoned after a loose drain cover struck Carlos Sainz's Ferrari.

The incident caused significant disruption to the event, with the Mercedes team principal becoming visibly frustrated when questioned about the potential reputational damage to Formula 1.

Wolff strongly rejected suggestions that the incident had embarrassed the championship, arguing that the situation was being exaggerated.

McEvoy has now claimed that the confrontation continued beyond the press conference, with Wolff allegedly seeking a permanent ban against him.

According to McEvoy, the FIA president subsequently contacted him during the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and offered a revealing assessment of the situation: "The Emirati, a former world rally champion, rang me at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a courtesy I shall remember, and said: 'I don't think Mr Wolff will be sending you a Christmas card this year.'"

The journalist's comments come amid a separate dispute with Formula 1's governing body, which has withdrawn his media accreditation following an opinion piece published after the Mexican Grand Prix.

In that column, McEvoy criticised Leclerc over his opening-lap confrontation with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, describing the Monegasque as a "sneaky little bastard".

The FIA subsequently informed McEvoy that his article had fallen below the professional standards expected of accredited journalists, resulting in his exclusion from the final three races of the season in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

McEvoy has suggested that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur may have influenced the decision, although no evidence has emerged establishing that the Frenchman requested his suspension.

The journalist also questioned whether Wolff could have played a role, referring to the relationship between the Mercedes boss and Vasseur.

"Is this temporary excommunication his revenge? He may not get on as well these days with Vasseur, but they may have rejoined over a mutual enemy (me)," McEvoy wrote.

The Daily Mail has strongly condemned the FIA's decision and announced that it will boycott coverage of the remaining three Grands Prix in response.