Bernie Ecclestone slams FIA ban on F1 journalist as 'completely mad'

The controversy erupted after the FIA revoked the Daily Mail correspondent's accreditation for the final three rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season, following a column he wrote about Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

The decision prompted an immediate backlash from McEvoy's newspaper, which announced that it would boycott the remaining races in solidarity with its journalist. Now, Ecclestone has added his voice to the criticism, questioning why the FIA would take such action against a reporter expressing his opinions.

The former Formula 1 supremo, who controlled the sport's commercial operations for decades, expressed his disbelief at the decision in a brief statement provided to the Daily Mail.

Ecclestone argued that readers should be free to decide whether they want to engage with a journalist's work rather than seeing that journalist prevented from covering the sport.

The controversy has also attracted the attention of two major organisations representing the interests of journalists and news publishers. The Society of Editors, which represents approximately 400 media editors and organisations across the United Kingdom, has publicly supported the Daily Mail and called for McEvoy's accreditation to be restored.

Its chief executive, Dawn Alford, argued that the FIA had acted wrongly by withdrawing the journalist's credentials, describing the use of accreditation as punishment for published criticism as "an abuse of that power".

The News Media Coalition has taken a similar position, with chief executive Andrew Moger expressing concern about the implications of the decision. He urged the FIA to allow McEvoy to return to the paddock alongside journalists who serve the sport and its fans through "their independent reporting including opinion-forming insights".

The organisation, which advocates for journalists' access to major sporting events, has urged the FIA to allow McEvoy to return to the paddock and continue providing independent coverage of Formula 1.

The dispute comes amid wider scrutiny of the FIA's relationship with the media under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has previously warned that journalists could face sanctions as part of the governing body's efforts to combat online abuse.

With the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaching, the FIA now faces mounting calls to reconsider its decision. However, there has been no indication that McEvoy's accreditation will be restored before the championship resumes in one week.