Hamilton disowns controversial sponsor but says it is not his fault

LEWIS HAMILTON last night reluctantly disowned Mercedes’ sponsorship deal with a firm that made combustible insulation for Grenfell Tower.

The world champion 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 after claiming pole position in qualifying for today’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Monaco-based driver 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. I was very aware and watching closely all the families affected by what happened there. 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 belated concern comes 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.

Lawyers for the bereaved families have said Kingspan sold flammable materials they knew ‘were dangerous to life’, though the firm was not primarily responsible for the fire.