The Mercedes F1 team have announced they have mutually agreed to end their F1 partnership with Kingspan after facing immense criticism from the survivors of the Grenfell Tower and social media users.
The business Kingspan, that claims to 'lead the way in sustainability', is confirmed to have made some of the insulation used on the refurbishment of Grenfell tower, which caught fire on 14 June 2017 killing 72 people. An inquiry into the tragedy is still ongoing.
The partnership, which became public information just last week, was announced by both Mercedes and Kingspan to have mutually agreed to end today December 8.
Advert
In a statement posted to their social media, Mercedes stated that the partnership was “not appropriate”, despite its “intended positive impact.”
The move comes after criticism from the survivors and bereaved families group Grenfell United, who wrote a letter to Mercedes demanding that the relationship be severed.
The letter read: “Kingspan played a central role in inflicting the pain and suffering that we feel today, and there must be a degree of public censure for Kingspan’s recklessness and carelessness for human life.”
Advert
Initially however, this letter was not deemed enough for the F1 team to cut ties with Kingspan.
In response to Grenfell United’s letter, on December 3, Toto Wolff (CEO of Mercedes AMG) apologised for the hurt that the announcement of the partnership caused, but also stressed that only a “small percentage” of their product was used in the building work which was allegedly done “without their knowledge.”
The letter finished with Wolff thanking Grenfell United for “the offer to meet in person for me to learn and understand better.”
You can read this letter here:
This approach, to profess to “learn and understand better” whilst defending Kingspan’s involvement, did not fly with many people, who then took to social media to state their frustrations.
Advert
One person stated: “This doesn't track, I'm sorry. Kingspan, through multiple enquiries, have been found to have been instrumental in the cladding system on Grenfell. Break ties. Now.”
Some social media users also criticised Lewis Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes, for riding in the F1 car featuring the Kingspan logo last Saturday.
Speaking at a news conference at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix last week, Hamilton said the partnership deal had 'nothing' to do with him.
Advert
"It is not something that I feel I have to speak about publicly... 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.
"It is really nothing to do with me and I know Toto (Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff) is sorting it."
Mercedes’ official announcement to cut ties with Kingspan came 5 days after the company’s initial letter to Grenfell United.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Grenfell Tower, Sport, Lewis Hamilton
