Alpine Backs Franco Colapinto After Jeremy Clarkson’s Nationality Joke

Alpine has stepped in to defend driver Franco Colapinto following a controversial remark made by Jeremy Clarkson during the United States Grand Prix weekend. The former Top Gear host, attending the event as a guest of the Enstone-based team, joked during a live Sky Sports F1 broadcast that Colapinto had been handed a grid penalty "for being Argentinian."

Why it matters:

This incident highlights the friction between Clarkson's provocative public persona and the professional environment of a modern F1 team. Alpine's swift response underscores their commitment to protecting their drivers from external controversy, especially given Clarkson's well-documented and volatile history with Argentinian sentiment.

The details:

• The comment was made during a live broadcast at the Circuit of the Americas, where Clarkson was discussing Alpine's outlook for the race.
• Historical Context: The joke referenced a 2014 Top Gear episode in Patagonia, where the crew faced violent protests after using a license plate that locals believed referenced the Falklands War.
• The Actual Penalty: In reality, Colapinto was handed a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding the seasonal limit of control electronics units, using his fourth unit of the 2026 season.
• Team Response: Alpine released a formal statement asserting that Colapinto has their "full support," though they pointedly avoided naming Clarkson directly in the text.

What's next:

While Clarkson has been a long-time supporter of the Alpine outfit, this incident may prompt the team to be more cautious regarding guest appearances on live broadcasts. For Colapinto, the priority remains overcoming the grid penalty to secure a competitive result in Austin as he continues his 2026 campaign.