Jeremy Clarkson has drawn criticism following remarks made about Alpine driver Franco Colapinto at the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin. The comments were delivered during a Sky Sports F1 interview ahead of the qualifying session on Saturday, October 25, 2026.
Clarkson, attending the event as a guest of the Alpine team, joked about Colapinto’s grid penalty. He stated, “Franco’s got a grid penalty for being Argentinian. Well, I’d give him one for that. But anyway, that’s just because of what happened when we went there.”
Colapinto received a 10-place grid penalty for the United States Grand Prix. This sanction was imposed for exceeding his permitted allocation of power unit components for the 2026 season. Specifically, he used his fourth Control Electronics (CE) unit, where regulations allow for only three.
The Argentine driver had qualified 14th but was set to start the race from 21st position due to the penalty. Two other drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto, also incurred grid penalties for similar power unit component breaches at the same event.
Clarkson’s remark referenced a 2014 Top Gear special filmed in Patagonia, Argentina. During the production, Clarkson drove a Porsche 928 GT with the number plate H982 FKL.
Local Argentinians interpreted this registration as a deliberate reference to the 1982 Falklands War. This led to protests and violent demonstrations against the Top Gear crew, forcing them to abandon filming and flee the country.
Clarkson and the BBC consistently maintained that the number plate was a coincidence. They stated it was the car’s genuine registration since its manufacture and that the perceived reference was unintentional.
Following Clarkson’s comments in Austin, Alpine issued a statement. The team did not name Clarkson directly but affirmed their position.
We at Alpine are aware of the comments made by a team guest in a recent television interview in Austin. Franco is our driver and has our full support.
Alpine further clarified that these were personal views and did not align with the team’s values of promoting kindness and respect.
Jamie Campbell-Walter, founder of Bullet Sports Management and Colapinto’s manager, also condemned the remarks. He stated that Clarkson’s comments about Colapinto’s nationality were “completely unacceptable” and had no place in Formula 1.
Campbell-Walter highlighted ongoing efforts to promote respect and end hostility within the sport. He noted that Colapinto himself had recently urged his fanbase to cease social media abuse directed at other drivers and team personnel.
Clarkson maintains a long-standing association with Alpine, referring to them as his “local team.” This connection stems from the proximity of their Enstone factory to his Diddly Squat farm in Oxfordshire.
His farm and beer company, Hawkstone, have established various partnerships and sponsorships with the team over recent years.
