Lewis Hamilton distances himself from Mercedes’ Kingspan F1 deal row

Lewis Hamilton has cast doubt on whether Kingspan’s branding will remain on his Mercedes Formula 1 car after admitting he had no idea the sponsor was linked to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Lewis Hamilton (GBR), Mercedes AMG F1
Lewis Hamilton (GBR), Mercedes AMG F1
© xpbimages.com

The survivors’ group of the Grenfell Tower fire and government minister Michael Gove ꧅are among those to have called on Mercedes to end its partnership with the Irish building materials firm. 

Some of Kingspan’s product was used in the refurbishment of the tower block, though the company insists its K15 insulation꧟ was used without its knowledge. A public enquiry into the disaster which killed 72 people i𝐆n June 2017 is ongoing. 

Hamilton was drawn into initial reports by some UK media outlets despite having no 🍸involvement in the deal. 

The seven-time world champion wꦇas asked about the matter for the first time on Saturday after qualifying at the Saudi Ara⛄bian Grand Prix.

“It’s not something that 🔴I feel like I need to spe⛄ak of publicly,” Hamilton said. 

“I h🧸ad nothing to do with the 🔯team signing any of the sponsors. Tommy [Hilfiger] was probably the only one I brought to the team.

“Itඣ was news to me when I heard♋ the things that happened this week.

“I was very much aware and watching very closely all the families that were affecte✨d by what happened. We know there’s been a huge outcry and an amazing amount of support from people through the community around there.

“This really doesn’t have anything to do with me and I know Toto [𝕴Wolff] is sorting it.

“Unfortunately my name is associated with it because it’s put on my car but whether 🤡that remains the same, we shall see.”

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W12.
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W12.
© xpbimages.com

Mercedes team b🌸oss Toto🍌 Wolff responded to a letter from Grenfell United by apologising for the “hurt” caused by the deal. He also offered to meet with the group to discuss the situation further. 

Speaking to media on Saturday evening, Wolff stressed he wanted to retain privacy while Mercedes looks “at🧸 it as a matter of urgency”, ꩲbut admitted “there’s certainly a lot of learning personally and for the team.” 

On Hamilton’s suggeꦺstion that Mercedes could withdraw Kingspan’s logos from its cars, Wolff said: “We have discussed also that with the important people and we will reach out to Kingspan and come up with the right solution.&nbsꦏp;

“There is a con💫tractﷺual agreement behind these things and we want to do the right thing with integrity.”

Asked directly if he regretted the deal, Wolff replied: “We all develop and learn in our lives and this is clearly a situation that ♐will make me improve in the future and my assessment, my decision-making.”

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