Jamie Campbell-Walter, founder of Bullet Sports Management, which represents Colapinto among others, hit back on social media after Jeremy Clarkson made a joke about the Alpine driver on television. Campbell-Walter wrote: “Jeremy Clarkson’s comments about Franco’s nationality were completely unacceptable. 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. That respect must go both ways. We cannot ask anyone to behave responsibly while accepting comments like these from prominent figures visiting our sport.
“Franco and his supporters deserve better than this. Let’s not allow this to undo the progress we’ve made and rise above malicious comments,” Campbell-Walter concluded.
Clarkson made the remark while appearing on Sky Sports F1, after being informed that Colapinto would have to start from the back of the grid. The former Top Gear host then said: “Franco’s got a grid penalty for being Argentinian. Probably. Well, I’d give him one for that. But anyway, that’s just because of what happened when we went there.”
Colapinto is due to begin the United States Grand Prix carrying a grid penalty after exceeding the permitted number of power unit components allowed in a season. He was handed a 10-place grid penalty for using his fourth Control Electronics Unit.
After qualifying in 14th place, the Alpine driver is now set to line up P21 later today at the Circuit of the Americas.
Remarks of this kind are not new in exchanges between English and Argentinian supporters, particularly after the two countries faced each other at the FIFA World Cup in the United States this year. In football, Argentinian Premier League players including Enzo Fernandez and Valentin Barco have been booed by English fans over their excessive celebrations last summer.
