Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed doubt on Saturday whether the trademark for a company linked to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire would stay on his Mercedes race car amid backlash in England and calls for his team to terminate his contract or not.
A partnership with Ireland-based cladding and insulation company Kingspan, some of whose products were used on a West London tower that caught fire with 72 deaths, was announced this week. .
“This (the deal) really has nothing to do with me and I know (team boss) Toto (Wolff) is arranging it,” seven-time world champion Hamilton told reporters after winning the title. pole position for the inaugural Saudi Grand Prix. in Jeddah.
“Unfortunately, my name is associated with it because it’s on my car but whether that stays the same, we’ll see,” he added.
UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove has urged Mercedes to reconsider, saying he was “deeply disappointed” that Mercedes accepted funding from Kingspan while an investigation was ongoing.
Grenfell United, representing the families and survivors, has also urged Mercedes to end the deal.
Wolff responded by letter on Friday, apologizing for the difficulties caused and agreeing to join a meeting.
Hamilton, the most successful Formula One driver of all time, said the controversy took him by surprise.
“It’s not something that I feel I have to make public,” he said.
“I have nothing to do with the team signing any sponsors, other than maybe Tommy [Hilfiger] was the only one I brought to the team. That was news to me when I heard what happened this week.
“I’m very aware of and follow very closely all the families affected by what happened there, and we know there’s been an outcry and an incredible amount of support from those out there. in the surrounding community.”
Kingspan said it had no role in the design of the cladding system on Grenfell Tower, where its K15 product accounts for about 5% of the insulation.
It added that this “was used as a substitute product without knowledge of Kingspan in a system that was not compliant with building regulations”.
