Jeremy Clarkson has delivered on his promise to buy everyone at Alpine a pint if they could secure an Formula 1 podium in 2023 at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Clarkson, most famous for hosting Top Gear on the BBC from 2002 to 2015, lives locally to the Enstone-based team and has admitted they are the team who he likes to follow the most.
Ahead of the Monaco GP, Clarkson tweeted a challenge to Alpine to secure a podium. Esteban Ocon started third after Charles Leclerc received a three-grid place penalty for blocking Lando Norris in qualifying.
Ocon fended off Carlos Sainz in the early stages of the race, then held back Lewis Hamilton towards the end of the Grand Prix to take third place.
Clarkson promised to honour the tweet and received help from Ocon and Kaleb Cooper, who stars on Clarkson’s Farm – a show about a farm that the British celebrity owns.
Later Clarkson jested to “never drink and tweet” after Ocon duly delivered Alpine’s first podium since 2021, coming home in third place behind Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Such was the size of the job Clarkson needed to utilise his Lamborghini tractor, and make a few trips back and forth, but was in good spirits about the event.
“I’m thrilled to be here today because it was a hell of a race,” Clarkson said. “It was great fun sitting and watching it at home.
“I’m glad I was able to spur you on to take a spot on the podium, although you’d have probably managed it anyway.
“Kaleb [Cooper] and I are delighted to bring you some beers. If you carry on winning, we’ll keep on beating the drum to support you – although a lesson here for everyone is never drink and tweet.”
Around 1000 drinks were delivered to the team, who got another chance to celebrate a memorable weekend in Monte Carlo in the summer sun of Oxfordshire.
Alpine have also invited Clarkson and Cooper to be guests of the team at the British GP in July and also gave a short tour of the Enstone site.
“I grew up watching Clarkson do tricks, and now I do some myself.” Ocon said. “He was an inspiration and has done so much for the motoring industry.”
