Jeremy Clarkson Sparks Outrage in Argentina Over Live TV F1 Joke
“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,” Jeremy Clarkson said live on Sky Sports F1.
The motoring broadcaster sparked fresh outrage in Argentina after making the live television remarks during the United States Grand Prix weekend, the Daily Express reported. Clarkson appeared as a guest of the Alpine Formula 1 team in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, when he joined the broadcaster’s presenting team on air.
Martin Brundle Reacts to Clarkson's Joke About Colapinto
Standing next to Clarkson on the ground in Texas, former F1 driver and Sky pundit Martin Brundle chuckled and shook his head slightly during the broadcast. Brundle recognized immediately that the remarks would provoke a sharp reaction among Franco Colapinto’s vocal fanbase.
Clarkson’s ties to the Alpine team stem from the proximity of their factory in Enstone, Oxfordshire, to his farm in Chipping Norton. When asked about Alpine’s prospects for the race weekend, Clarkson steered his comments toward Colapinto’s standing on the grid before delivering the joke regarding the driver’s nationality.
Clarkson References Volatile 2014 Top Gear Trip to Argentina
Clarkson’s reference to “what happened when we went there” alluded to a notoriously volatile 2014 filming trip to Argentina with his former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May. That South American road trip ended with the presenters and their entire film crew fleeing across the border into Chile after hiding from an angry local mob.
The hostility during the 2014 production had been ignited by the registration plate — H982 FKL — on the Porsche 928 Clarkson selected for the journey. While BBC executives maintained the plate was an entirely coincidental sequence, local residents viewed it as an intentional provocation referencing the 1982 Falklands War.
Engine Part Quota Leads to Colapinto's Grid Penalty
Away from the broadcast banter, the factual basis for Colapinto’s starting position was entirely technical. Colapinto qualified 14th on the road in Austin but incurred a 10-place grid penalty for utilizing a new engine part beyond his annual allowance.
Specifically, the driver exceeded his quota by taking on a fourth control electronics unit, whereas regulations permit only three per car per season. That penalty pushed him toward the back row of the 22-car grid. He avoided starting dead last only because Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto accumulated 60 places worth of penalties, triggering F1 rules requiring any driver exceeding 15 cumulative penalty places to start at the very back.
Immediate Backlash and Official Responses
Social media reactions from Argentinian supporters were swift and critical. One supporter wrote on X, as cited by the Daily Express: “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 choose to host a guest who publicly mocked the nationality of one of their drivers.
Jamie Campbell-Walter, director of Bullet Sports Management representing Colapinto, condemned the remarks publicly 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,” Campbell-Walter wrote.
Alpine issued a formal statement addressing the controversy surrounding their paddock guest. “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,” the team stated.