Jeremy Clarkson reignites rift with Argentina
Jeremy Clarkson reignites rift with Argentina
Tom CarySun, October 25, 2026 at 11:27 AM UTC
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Jeremy Clarkson is interviewed by Martin Brundle before qualification for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix where he is a guest of Franco Colapinto‘s Alpine team - Getty Images/ Jayce Illman
Jeremy Clarkson has reignited his rift with Argentina after making a joke about Franco Colapinto, the Alpine Formula One driver.
Clarkson, who is a guest of the Enstone-based team at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, was interviewed on Sky Sports before qualifying on Saturday, where he discussed Colapinto’s 10-place grid penalty for power unit component changes among other things.
The Clarkson’s Farm presenter said: “Franco has got a grid penalty for being Argentinean… probably. Umm, well I’d give him one for that. But anyway.”
As Martin Brundle, the Sky presenter, laughed a little nervously, Clarkson added: “That’s just because of what happened when we went there.”
Clarkson was referring to an episode of Top Gear filmed in Patagonia in 2014 when he drove a Porsche 928, with the number plate H982 FKL, which was taken to be a reference to the Falklands War, attracting the ire of locals who threw rocks and bricks at it.
Clarkson drives his car with the number plate that offended many Argentines - BBC
Clarkson and his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond were forced to abandon the shoot and flee to the Chilean border.
Andy Wilman, the executive producer, later insisted that the plate was entirely coincidental, saying that the team bought the car in the UK because it was one of only two right-hand-drive manual models available for sale in decent condition. UK vehicle records showed it had been registered to the Porsche since May 1991.
Both the BBC and the independent BBC Trust investigated the matter and officially ruled that there was no evidence the plate was chosen as an intentional reference to the 1982 Falklands War. However, the bad blood lingered.
Clarkson said at the time that the attack was “the most terrifying thing I’ve ever been involved in”, adding that a mob had shouted “burn their cars” and tried to attack his crew with pickaxe handles.
He added: “There were hundreds of them. They were hurling rocks and bricks at our cars. This is not just some kind of jolly Top Gear jape – this was deadly serious.”
Colapinto’s fans immediately took to social media to complain about Clarkson, arguing there were double standards at play. Since Colapinto joined Alpine in 2025, the team have had to issue several statements condemning online hate and abuse from the Argentine driver’s supporters.
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Franco Colapinto starts Sunday’s race in 21st place on the grid - LAT Images/Alex Bierens de Haan
Colapinto himself issued a statement last week asking his fanbase to stop directing online abuse at other drivers and figures within the sport because it was “not helping” his career.
“I know it makes you incredibly proud when things go well for me,” he said. “And I have always been very grateful for that support. But sometimes, we go too far.
“Instead of supporting me, we end up criticising people and attacking other drivers, other colleagues, my team-mates, my mechanics, my engineers. I know you think you’re defending me, but you’re actually doing the opposite. You’re not helping me or my future.”
Colapinto’s manager issued a statement on social media calling Clarkson’s comments about his driver “completely unacceptable” after the work done to try to promote respect online.
“Jeremy Clarkson’s comments about Franco’s nationality were completely unacceptable,” Jamie Campbell-Walter wrote. “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.”
The Alpine team also issued a statement, albeit without naming Clarkson.
“We’re aware of the comments made in a recent TV interview from a guest of the team in Austin,” the team said. “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.”
After his 10-place grid penalty, Colapinto will start the Austin race in 21st, with team-mate Pierre Gasly in 10th.
Clarkson is a fan of Alpine F1, largely because their Enstone factory is located near his farm in Oxfordshire. Recently, he promised to buy the entire team a round of his Hawkstone beer if Pierre Gasly turned his pole position into a victory at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
Clarkson also made comments on the celebrities Brundle interviews on his grid walk, saying many of them “barely know what a car is” and adding that he had no interest in Brundle’s recent conversation with Lewis Hamilton’s celebrity girlfriend Kim Kardashian in Singapore.
“I wasn’t watching that,” he said. “Because I’m sort of not interested in Kim Kardashian if I’m honest. I’m here to watch Formula One, not Kim Kardashians. And all the cameras go, ‘Oh, Kim Kardashian’s here!’ Why do I care?”
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
