Clarkson faces backlash for nationality comment on F1 driver

Jeremy Clarkson has been criticised for suggesting that Alpine driver Franco Colapinto deserved a grid penalty because of his nationality. The 23-year-old driver from Buenos Aires is already serving a 10-place grid drop for engine changes ahead of Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas ^[1]. Speaking to Martin Brundle on Sky Sports, Clarkson said: “Franco got a grid penalty for being Argentinian… well probably. I’d give him one for that. But anyway that’s because of what happened when we went there.”

The remark appears to reference the 2014 Top Gear incident in Patagonia, when Clarkson and the team were forced to abandon filming after a car number plate—H982 FKL—sparked protests due to its perceived reference to the Falklands War. The BBC and Clarkson maintained the plate was a coincidence ^[1].

Alpine issued a statement distancing itself from the comments: “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.”

The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands, a UK overseas territory where islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain British in 2013. In 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the islands but were defeated by June. Argentina’s football association was fined $321,000 (£235,000) after displaying a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ during the World Cup semi-final against England ^[1].

Colapinto’s co-manager, Jamie Campbell-Walter, condemned the remarks on X: “Jeremy 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.”

Clarkson also dismissed coverage of Lewis Hamilton’s girlfriend Kim Kardashian during a Sky Sports broadcast, saying: “I wasn’t watching that. Because I’m sort of not interested in Kim Kardashian if I’m honest… Why would I be interested in Kim Kardashian? I’m here to watch Formula One, not Kim Kardashian.”

The Mirror and Daily Star have both approached Clarkson’s representatives for comment ^[1][2].