Jeremy Clarkson buys his biggest round ever as he delivers 1000 pints – and admits he has a new golden rule for drinking
CHUGGING along a country lane, Jeremy Clarkson hauled the biggest round he’s ever bought to go meet the fastest driver in Oxfordshire – Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.
In classic Top Gear style, a pit stop was required after a few crates careered off the side of the Lamborghini tractor’s trailer.
The motoring ace, 68, was fulfilling his promise to give the F1 team free beer if they snagged a spot on the podium in the Monaco Grand Prix – meaning he’s now down several thousands beers.
“Never drink and tweet, because I’ve really done myself over here,” the petrol head joked.
During the May 28th race, Clarkson tweeted: “Come on @AlpineF1Team I’ll buy you all a pint if you get a podium here.”
He doubled down on his promise in his column in The Sun and finally found out he needed to drop off around 1000 bottles – not 50 as he had envisioned.
Speeding, at least by tractor standards at about 10 miles per hour, onto the complex Clarkson made sure everyone was aware of his arrival by flashing all the lights possible on the tractor.
He was joined by Clarkson’s Farm favourite Kaleb Cooper, 24, who welcomed his second child yesterday, to hand beers out of the trailer to the thousand-person strong team at Alpine’s F1 base in Enstone, Oxfordshire.
Race ace Esteban beamed as he helped haul the beer out of the trailer.
Working in the blistering sun, the trio wiped sweat from their brows as they handed out the bottles of pale ale to the crew, who had their first taste of victory this season.
Jeremy said: “I’m thrilled to be here today because it was a hell of race. 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 probably have managed it anyway.
“Kaleb and I are delighted to bring you some beers.
“We’ve had a bit of a problem because demand is outstripping the supply, so you’re getting the last of it for a few weeks.
“We managed to cobble together enough for everyone here.
“If you carry on winning, and we’ll keep beating the drum to support you.
“Although, a lesson here for everyone is never drink and tweet. I was high on my own product.”
Not only did Clarkson deliver every member of the team a bottle, he also brought along kegs for their summer family day – causing a headache for brewers to find enough stock.
Thrilled to meet his childhood icon, driver Esteban enthused: “I grew up watching Clarkson do tricks, and now I do some myself.
“He was an inspiration and has done so much for the motoring industry.”
The Frenchman, 26, claimed his spot on the podium despite relentless pressure from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
“This is so special that Jeremy has come down here. So many people don’t stay true to their word by you have. It means a lot.”
Employees were just as thrilled to have a chance to speak with farm worker Kaleb and find out how his newborn was doing.
He told them: “It’s great. Taya is doing amazingly and after we got home she was running around the house excitedly.
“It’s great to be here but I am very tired after everything.”
Despite being in charge of growing the crops that make the beer, Kaleb joked he hadn’t been consulted before Clarkson offered it out for free.
He cheekily added “I don’t think he’d ask permission for anything.”
As a thanks for Clarkson’s unwavering support, team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, 58, invited him and Kaleb to come down as Alpine’s guests to see the race and visit the pit at Silverstone on July 9th.
Before the TV personality had a chance to accept, his partner Lisa Hogan shouted “yes” and Clarkson dutifully accepted as well.
The pair showed off their love for the racing sport enthusing with Esteban about his race tactics, and Jeremy claims he spotted the driver’s talent back in 2018.
“I saw him pull a move on a big name track when he was racing for another team and I’ve kept an eye on him ever since,” Clarkson said.
“This kid is brilliant and very ambitious.”
After showering Alpine’s crew with compliments for raising the profile of Chipping Norton – where Clarkson calls home – he and Kaleb got a mini tour of the site by Esteban.
While showing off the super-powered cars, the F1 driver couldn’t resist ribbing the TV personality about how “aged” the fancy Lamborghini tractor was now looking compared to when it was on the show.
In response, Clarkson joked that Alpine’s trophy cabinets currently looked like “Tottenham’s” due to all the space.
After trading jokes, the petrol head was offered a chance to get into an F1 car but declined saying “I’m too fat, wait I mean tall for this.”
But one thing is for sure, Clarkson is certainly going to be popping in to his neighbouring F1 team going forward.
And his kegs of Hawkstone have pride of place next to the F1 cars in Alpines foyer.