FIA Withdraws Reporter's Accreditation for Rest of Season
The governing body cited professionalism standards after an article criticized a Formula 1 driver.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Motorsports
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The FIA withdrew a Formula 1 reporter's media accreditation for the remainder of the 2026 season, with immediate effect. The governing body said the article fell short of the professionalism expected of accredited media.
Why it matters
The decision bars the reporter from the three remaining championship rounds and highlights how the FIA applies its accreditation discretion to media coverage. It also follows an earlier dispute in which Max Verstappen ordered a reporter removed from a press conference.
The withdrawal covers three remaining rounds of the 2026 championship, in the USA, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The FIA has not published any further metrics on the decision, and the reporter's response is not included in the available reporting.
The players
FIA
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is the international governing body for motorsport, including Formula 1, and sets the rules for media accreditation at its events.
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen is a Red Bull Formula 1 driver and a four-time world champion known for his competitive rivalries on track.
The details
The FIA exercised its discretion under the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship Accreditation Guidelines to withdraw the reporter's accreditation. The Daily Mail reported the decision, quoting an FIA representative, and the governing body said the reporter's column, which described Charles Leclerc as a 'sneaky b*****d', fell short of expected professional standards.
Timeline
Last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Max Verstappen and George Russell collided.
Three months before Verstappen's removal order: the reporter asked Verstappen whether he regretted the collision.
Earlier in 2026: Verstappen ordered the reporter removed from a Red Bull press conference.
November 13, 2026: The FIA withdrew the accreditation with immediate effect.
Season Trajectory
The decision reshapes media access for the final three rounds of the 2026 championship, which decide the title race. It also sets a precedent for how the FIA balances editorial criticism of drivers against its professionalism standards for accredited press.
The reporter will not have credentialed access to the final three rounds of the 2026 season, limiting first-hand coverage of those events from that reporter. Fans following the championship will rely on other accredited media for paddock reporting in the USA, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The takeaway
Accreditation rules give governing bodies broad discretion over who reports from inside the paddock. Readers following the 2026 title race should expect coverage in the final rounds to come from remaining accredited outlets.
Further reading
Explore more Motorsports coverage for context on the FIA's approach to media and paddock access.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RaceFans.
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