Jeremy Clarkson has drawn sharp criticism from Franco Colapinto's management and his Alpine team after making a joke about the driver's nationality during a Sky Sports F1 interview at the United States Grand Prix. Jamie Campbell-Walter, director of Bullet Sports Management, which represents the 23-year-old driver, called the remarks "completely unacceptable" in a post on social media.
Clarkson's Grid Penalty Joke
The 66-year-old TV presenter, attending the Austin race as a guest of Alpine, referenced Colapinto's 10-place grid penalty for Sunday's race. The punishment was automatic because Colapinto took a new engine part beyond his annual allowance.
When asked for his prediction on Alpine's weekend, Clarkson joked: "Franco has got a grid penalty – for being Argentinian, probably. Well, I'd give him one for that, but anyway, that's just because of what happened when we went there."
Backlash and Team Response
Campbell-Walter wrote on X: "Clarkson's comments about Franco's nationality were completely unacceptable. There is no place for remarks like this in Formula 1, regardless of who makes them or whether they are intended as a joke. We have worked hard to promote respect and put an end to hostility and abuse. That respect must go both ways. We cannot ask anyone to behave responsibly while accepting comments like these from prominent figures visiting our sport." He added: "Franco and his supporters deserve better than this. Let's not allow this to undo the progress we've made and rise above malicious comments."
Alpine also issued a statement distancing itself from Clarkson's comments. A spokesperson said: "We're aware of the comments made in a recent TV interview from a guest of the team in Austin. We would like to reiterate that these are personal views and do not align with the team's values of promoting kindness and respect. Franco is our driver and has our full support."
Clarkson Also Targets Kim Kardashian
Clarkson's reference to Argentina stems from a Top Gear episode over a decade ago, when he and his co-hosts were chased out of the country after an angry mob formed over the number plate H982 FKL, which some believed was a deliberate provocation over the Falklands War. BBC chiefs insisted it was a coincidence.
During the same Sky interview, Clarkson also singled out Kim Kardashian, expressing dismay over the attention she receives when visiting the F1 paddock. He said: "I'm sort of not interested in Kim Kardashian if I'm honest... I'm not interested. Why would I be interested in Kim Kardashian? I'm here to watch Formula 1, not Kim Kardashian. And all the cameras go, 'Oh, Kim Kardashian's here!' Why do I care?" Colapinto has not personally responded to the incident.
