Jeremy Clarkson has provoked fresh outrage in Argentina after a live television comment about Franco Colapinto went viral on social media. Speaking on Sky Sports F1 during the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas, the motoring journalist and TV presenter joked that Colapinto's grid penalty was "for being Argentinian, probably."
Clarkson, a guest of the Alpine team due to the proximity of their Enstone factory to his farm in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, was invited to join the Sky presenting team in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas. His remark drew a chuckle and a slight head shake from his friend and former F1 driver Martin Brundle, who stood nearby working as a pundit.
Clarkson's History with Argentina
The comment recalled Clarkson's infamous 2014 Top Gear road trip through Argentina with Richard Hammond and James May. That episode ended with the presenters and crew fleeing from an angry mob and crossing the border into Chile after locals took offence at the number plate on Clarkson's Porsche 928, which read H982 FKL. BBC executives insisted the plate was a coincidence, but locals interpreted it as a reference to the 1982 Falklands War.
This time, the joke was clearly tongue-in-cheek, as the actual reason for Colapinto's penalty is public knowledge. The Argentine driver will serve a 10-place grid penalty for using a fourth control electronics unit, exceeding the season allowance of three per car.
Grid Penalty and Fan Reaction
Colapinto qualified 14th on the road but will drop to the back row of the 22-car grid as a result. He will not start last, however, because Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto has incurred 60 places' worth of penalties, and F1 rules require any driver with more than 15 accumulated penalty places to start at the very back.
Despite the joke's clear intent, Argentinian fans on social media reacted angrily. One supporter wrote: "He tells jokes while being on another continent because the last time he tried to tell a joke while in Argentina, he had to escape, hiding at night." Others questioned why Alpine would invite a guest who jokes about the nationality of one of their drivers, with one sarcastically noting: "Alpine invited him? How nice." Some pointed to criticism of Colapinto's fans for attacking other drivers, denouncing "double standards."
Alpine's Response
Alpine issued a statement on Clarkson's comment, saying: "We are aware of the comments made by a team guest in a recent television interview in Austin. We want to reiterate that this is a personal opinion that does not align with the team's values, which promote kindness and respect. Franco is our driver and has our full support."
