Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has
distanced himself from Mercedes’ partnership deal with Kingspan, an insulation
company linked to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, saying he had nothing to do
with the decision. Hamilton suggested the Kingspan logo could be removed from
his car, reported The Guardian.

“Unfortunately my name is associated with
it because it has been on my car, but whether that remains the same, we will
see,” he said.

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Hamilton also cast doubt on Kingspan
branding remaining on his Mercedes car. He will be driving for Mercedes at the
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, and a Kingspan logo appeared on his car
for the first time during qualifying on Saturday.

“It is not something that I feel I have to
speak about publicly,” Hamilton said at a press conference. “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,” he added.

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“It was news to me when I heard the things
that have happened this week and 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 around there,”
Hamilton said.

On Friday, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team
principal, Toto Wolff, apologised to Grenfell survivors and bereaved relatives
and thanked the campaign group Grenfell United for an offer to meet after its
condemnation of the deal with Kingspan.

“It is really nothing to do with me and I
know Toto is sorting it,” Hamilton said.

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The seven-time world champion has
previously posted about the Grenfell Tower fire on his Instagram account. On
the 2020 anniversary of the fire he said, “Remembering the 72 souls we lost and
their loved ones, and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

The housing secretary, Michael Gove, said
on Thursday that the government could amend advertising rules for racing cars
if Mercedes did not pull the partnership with Kingspan.

The ongoing public inquiry into the 2017
fire is examining the firm’s involvement in the tragedy.