Jeremy Clarkson Breaks Silence on a Ban That Left Him Speechless.
Jeremy Clarkson Says He ‘Didn’t Know’ He Was Banned From Driving Aston Martins
Jeremy Clarkson, the outspoken television presenter and motoring journalist best known for his decades-long work on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has admitted that he was unaware he had been “banned” by Aston Martin after publishing a scathing review of one of the company’s cars.
The 65-year-old, who now splits his time between running his 1,000-acre farm in Chipping Norton and writing weekly columns for the Sunday Times, revealed the surprising detail during one of his recent reviews. What makes the story more unusual is Clarkson’s own admission that, for quite some time, he didn’t actually realize he had fallen foul of the luxury carmaker.
From Red Card to “Sin Bin”
Clarkson explained that after writing a negative review of the Aston Martin DBX SUV, he had been, in his words, “red-carded” by the brand. He believed this meant that Aston Martin had barred him from driving any of its demonstration models.
“After I gave the DBX a firm but fair kicking on these pages, I was red-carded by Aston Martin and banned from driving any of its demonstrators,” Clarkson wrote in his column.
The TV star suggested that he had been effectively frozen out, with the company quietly removing his access without directly informing him. “But it didn’t actually show me the red card or even write to say it had been issued. So I never knew,” he continued.
However, after revisiting Aston Martin for a new review of the DB12, Clarkson discovered that the so-called ban had not been permanent—or perhaps had never really been official. In his typically colorful language, he compared the situation to a temporary sports penalty:
“And now it turns out it wasn’t a red card after all. I was merely sin-binned and now — without knowing I ever left it — I’m back on the pitch.”
Praise for the DB12
Reviewing the newly released Aston Martin DB12, Clarkson was far more generous. He described the car as a joy to drive and singled out the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine for particular praise.
He wrote enthusiastically about its sound, coining a new phrase to capture its character: “Is there such a thing as ‘creamy gravel’? Because that’s as close as I can get. I think if it were a singer, it’d be Joe Cocker.”
Such imagery is typical Clarkson—irreverent, witty, and just eccentric enough to stand out from standard car journalism. And while he has often been accused of being harsh, sometimes brutally so, his latest remarks show that when he admires a car, he doesn’t hold back his enthusiasm.
A Career Built on Controversy and Charm
For more than 20 years, Clarkson built his reputation on shows like Top Gear and later The Grand Tour, where he test-drove thousands of cars, from humble hatchbacks to the most exotic supercars on the planet. His blend of sharp criticism, flamboyant metaphors, and unapologetic opinions made him a household name—though often a divisive one.
The alleged “ban” from Aston Martin was just one episode in a career marked by controversy. Manufacturers have frequently bristled at his words. Some have embraced his criticism as part of his larger-than-life persona, while others have reportedly been less forgiving. But Clarkson’s ability to provoke debate is part of what keeps readers coming back to his columns week after week.
Life Beyond Cars
In recent years, Clarkson has found a new audience with Clarkson’s Farm, the hit Amazon Prime documentary that follows his often-hapless attempts at running Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds. The show, now filming its fifth season, has introduced Clarkson to a whole new fan base outside the world of petrolheads.
Yet, even as farming has become a central focus of his life, Clarkson has never strayed far from motoring journalism. His reviews continue to spark debate, and the Aston Martin incident is just the latest in a long line of stories where Clarkson’s words carried unexpected consequences.
Back on the Road
Now, with his apparent “ban” lifted—or perhaps never formally enforced—Clarkson seems to be back in Aston Martin’s good books. And for fans, the whole episode is classic Clarkson: a mix of misunderstanding, controversy, and ultimately, sharp humor.
If anything, the story underscores what has always defined Jeremy Clarkson: he doesn’t just drive cars, he turns them into stories. And whether he’s red-carded, sin-binned, or back on the pitch, he remains one of the most distinctive voices in automotive journalism.
