Alpine backs Colapinto after Clarkson's nationality joke

Alpine publicly backed Franco Colapinto after Jeremy Clarkson joked during a United States Grand Prix broadcast that the driver deserved a grid penalty for being Argentinian. The team said Clarkson’s remarks were personal views that did not align with its values of kindness and respect, and that Colapinto had its full support. Clarkson made the comment in Austin during a live interview ahead of qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas. Discussing Alpine’s prospects, he referred to Colapinto’s penalty and said he would give the driver one for being Argentinian, adding that his remark related to what happened when he and the Top Gear team visited Argentina. Colapinto’s 10-place grid penalty was for taking his fourth new control electronics unit of the 2026 season, according to reports on the penalty. It was not imposed because of his nationality. The team’s statement did not name Clarkson, describing him as a guest in a recent television interview in Austin. Colapinto’s manager, Jamie Campbell-Walter, condemned the remark as unacceptable and said such comments had no place in Formula 1. His response also urged respect for Colapinto and his supporters. The manager’s comments...