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Lewis Hamilton has responded to questions regarding the backlash Mercedes is facing for their sponsorship deal with Kingspan.
Earlier this week Mercedes announced a new sponsorship deal with building materials company Kingspan.
Immediately the team was heavily criticized for partnering with a company that has been involved in the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people in June of 2017.
The building had Kingspan’s K15 insulation product installed, and the matter is still being investigated.
Grenfell United, a group made up of survivors of the disaster and the families of those killed in the fire, wrote to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and asked him to reconsider the deal.
After Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying Lewis Hamilton was asked to give his comments on the situation.
He explained it was “not something that I feel I have to speak of publicly”, but added he had “nothing to do with the team signing any of the sponsors”, except Tommy Hilfiger.
“Tommy was the only one that I brought to the team,” the Briton said.
“It 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 affected by what happened there.
“We know there’s been a huge outcry and an amazing amount of support from people, from the community around there. So yeah, as I said, this really doesn’t have anything to do with me.
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“I know Toto is sorting it. Unfortunately my name is associated with it, because it’s put on that car, but whether that remains the same, we shall see,” Hamilton concluded.
Wolff, who promised to meet with Grenfell United, confirmed he is indeed ‘sorting it’.
“In my letter, I apologised for the pain that was caused by this announcement,” the Austrian said.
“It’s something where there’s a lot of learning for me personally. What I want to say is we’ve initiated a dialogue with some of the community, with the bereaved families and the survivors of the Grenfell tragedy to better understand the pain it’s caused.
“That process is just the beginning and we would like to wish for privacy while it’s ongoing. We are looking at it with a matter of urgency.”
Wolff also commented on Hamilton’s remarks that the logo might not be featured on Mercedes’ cars.
“We have discussed that with the important people. We will reach out to Kingspan and come up with the right solution.
“There is a contractual agreement that’s behind these things. We want to just do the right thing and we want to do the right thing with integrity,” Mercedes’ team boss concluded.
