Hamilton disowns Grenfell firm link
LEWIS HAMILTON last night reluctantly disowned Mercedes’ sponsorship deal with Kingspan, a firm that made combustible insulation for Grenfell Tower.
The world champion, who claimed pole position for today’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix only because his rival Max Verstappen drove into a wall when on the verge of setting the fastest lap, at first said nothing to apologise to the families of the 72 people killed in the disaster.
When asked about the tie-up with Kingspan, Hamilton shook his head as if fed up with the subject before relenting when later pressed again.
Kingspan’s complicity in the fire of June 2017 is the subject of a public inquiry — yet Hamilton is driving around Jeddah’s road circuit with their branding on his car in a deal believed to be worth up to £3million.
Hamilton said: ‘It is not something that I feel I have to speak about publicly. I had nothing to do with the team signing any of the sponsors. Tommy [Hilfiger] was the only one I probably brought to the team.
‘It was news to me when I heard this week. We know there has been a huge outcry and an amazing amount of support by people in the community.
‘It is really nothing to do with me and I know Toto (Wolff, the team principal) is sorting it. Unfortunately my name is associated with it because it has been on my car, but whether that remains the same, we will see.’
Hamilton’s remarks came after Mercedes’ repeated insistence that Kingspan will remain on their cars this weekend, despite survivors’ group Grenfell United describing the deal as ‘truly shocking’ and demanding its withdrawal.
Wolff has written to Grenfell United to apologise for the ‘additional hurt’ the deal has caused.
In qualifying, Verstappen grazed one hoarding before clipping the barrier on the exit of the final corner and coming to a halt.
Hamilton’s good luck is further helped by Valtteri Bottas, his teammate, starting second and potentially acting as a buffer between him and the thrusting Dutchman, whose earlier time was good enough for third fastest.