Mercedes' recently announced partnership with new sponsor Kingspan caused a stir. The insulation company is said to have played a major role in the rapid spread of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which killed dozens of people. Lewis Hamilton, who previously expressed his support towards the victims, clarified in a comment that he had no input in the new sponsorship deal.
Hamilton has also been criticised, given the message he posted on Instagram in the past. In it, he used the hashtag '#justiceforgrenfell', but he now seems to want to keep quiet about the sponsorship deal his team has struck with the company associated with the fire. He says the reactions the deal has provoked are 'news to him'.
"It's not something I want to talk about publicly," Hamilton is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com. He stresses that he has no input into the sponsorship deals his team agrees. "I have nothing to do with the sponsors the team contracts with."
The one exception is clothing brand Tommy Hilfiger, which Hamilton has brought to the team. "Tommy is the only one I brought to the team," the Briton said.
"When I heard what happened this week it was news to me," he explains. "I was very aware and kept a close eye on all the families affected. We know there has been a huge outcry and an amazing amount of support from the community there. So yes, as I said, this really has nothing to do with me."
The Mercedes driver is confident that Toto Wolff will make sure things work out. "I know Toto is sorting it out. Unfortunately, my name is associated with it because it is put on the car, but we'll see if it stays that way," Hamilton concluded.
Great see social media has appropriately gone viral on this over Hamilton hypocrisy. Fully deserved. Lets see how he whines his way out of this one.
'#justiceforgrenfell', "It's not something I want to talk about publicly," Why not Lewis? For someone who constantly preaches support for victims of injustice you are obviously a hypocrite. Shame on you.
“This has nothing to do with me” but you vocal about change and other issues the F1 must address but not wanting to put pressure on your team about an issue you have apparently followed closely, where is the using my voice and position to create change now
Are you serious!? Company sign deals all the time and a lot of has nothing to with the driver or team. Anything he says or does is going to fuel controversy. He supported the the victims of the tragedy. He did what he said he's going to do.
Yeah and F1 as a whole gets told to go to task by him all the time why is it ok to push controversy with F1 itself but not the own team you drive with. My point is you target a whole organization but your team you don’t.
So it means he will continue to drive the car sponsored by that company the same way as he continues to drive in f1 even with all the issues he is against with. Just why?