Colapinto unbothered by Clarkson’s comments: I don’t really know him

Argentinian fans were a talking point again last weekend. This time, though, it was not a manoeuvre by Franco Colapinto or one of his rivals that sparked the debate, but Jeremy Clarkson. The British television legend and huge Formula 1 and Alpine fan had experienced the toxicity of Argentinian fans long before Franco’s rivals did.

Clarkson’s Top Gear had an unpleasant experience in the South American country in 2014, when the BBC crew was filming its Patagonia Special – one of the legendary television trio’s most spectacular adventures. The team literally had to flee the country after Argentinians became convinced that the number plate on Jeremy’s car was a reference to the Falklands War.

It was precisely that experience that prompted Jeremy to make a joke about Colapinto in Austin. “Franco’s got a grid penalty for being Argentinian. Probably. Well, I’d give him one for that,” Jeremy told Sky in Austin.

Of course, it was a joke, but Argentinians have no appetite for that kind of humour, and a backlash followed, which Colapinto’s management needlessly fuelled. “Jeremy Clarkson’s comments about Franco’s nationality were completely unacceptable. There is no place for remarks like this in Formula One, regardless of who makes them or whether they ⁠are ​intended as a joke,” declared Colapinto’s manager Jamie Campbell-Walter.

By a twist of fate, Jeremy has become one of Alpine’s celebrity supporters, with the team’s Enstone factory located close to his farm. Clarkson has visited the team several times and even bought every employee a beer after Esteban Ocon finished on the podium at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix. In Austin, too, he and producer Andy Wilman were hosted by Flavio Briatore in Alpine’s motorhome. Jeremy is certainly an Alpine fan, and therefore a Colapinto fan too.

Fortunately, unlike his management, Franco opted to keep his head down – a sensible decision given Jeremy’s popularity within Alpine (now effectively a British team).

“Of course, it’s nothing to do with the team. He did an interview on his own, it’s nothing related to the team. I think he’s always been kind of joking, I don’t really know him, but they told me,” Colapinto told the media in the mixed zone.

“I didn’t see too much of what he said, but I heard that Jamie [Campbell-Walter, Colapinto’s manager] put something on social media,” the Argentinian driver continued.

“I guess, just try to focus on ourselves. I try to improve the situation. Of course, it kind of needs help from a lot of people, not just from me. We’ll see how we end up, but yeah, not the best, I guess,” Colapinto added.