Colapinto responds to Clarkson’s joke about a penalty for being Argentinian

Franco Colapinto has responded to Jeremy Clarkson after the former presenter joked that the Alpine driver should receive a penalty for being Argentinian. He was referring to the grid penalty Colapinto had actually received for exceeding his power-unit parts allocation and, most likely, to a Top Gear episode filmed in Patagonia.

The reference points to a Top Gear special in Patagonia in 2014. At the time, filming was cut short after Argentinian protesters interpreted a controversial number plate as a reference to the Falklands War. Clarkson and the Top Gear crew said the plate number was coincidental and denied choosing it deliberately.

The following day, Colapinto was asked about the remark in the post-race media pen. He distanced his team from it: “Of course, it has nothing to do with the team.” He said Clarkson had spoken on his own and that he barely knew him, while adding that he had been told Clarkson often joked. Colapinto also said he had not followed everything Clarkson said closely, but had heard that his manager, Jamie Campbell-Walter, had posted something on social media.

Alpine responded swiftly, stressing that the comments had come from a guest and backing its driver: “Franco is our driver and has our full support.” The team also described the remarks as having been made in a television interview in Austin.

Colapinto’s response came amid a difficult day on track. His Austin race ended after contact with Arvid Lindblad at Turn 1 on lap 25. The two cars touched, the Alpine spun and later retired. Colapinto said he had been trying to keep Lindblad behind so Pierre Gasly could get ahead: “The three of us were side by side and I got sandwiched. The car was badly damaged.” He added that the floor and an entire side of the car were broken.

Starting from the back, Colapinto had opted for hard tyres in the hope of making something happen, but it did not work. He described his race pace over the weekend as “very strong”, while acknowledging that the situation needed help from several people. He said he was looking to turn things around in Mexico, avoid penalties and get back to finishing races, ahead of the races in Mexico and Brazil.