Ahead of the Saudi Arabia GP, Mercedes announced a new sponsorship deal with insulation and building wrapping company Kingspan – with the company’s logos appearing on the W12 car.
The move sparked a backlash from survivors and families affected by the 2017 Grenfell fire disaster that killed 72 people.
Kingspan’s K15 insulation was one of the products installed on Grenfell Tower and the company’s involvement in the disaster has been extensively researched.
Grenfell United, an advocacy group made up of the families of the victims and survivors, was the first to comment on the move and ask Mercedes to cancel the deal.
In an open letter to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, they wrote: “The announcement of your new partnership with Kingspan this week is really shocking. Kingspan played a central role in inflicting the pain and suffering we feel today and there must be some public censure for Kingspan’s ruthlessness and carelessness towards human life. “
They added, “By partnering with Kingspan, we believe you are directly involved in this system that puts profit above human life. We therefore ask for the assurance that you will take positive action to distance yourself from Kingspan.
“Grenfell United wants you to share the letter with your shareholders and await your response. We would be happy to arrange a meeting with you to discuss this in more detail.
“It can’t just be ‘business as usual’. We hope that you can show that ethics and values exist in Formula 1 and that actions have consequences. “
The focus on the Kingspan sponsorship deal was heightened when Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Leveling Up, Housing & Communities announced that he would write to Mercedes to ask them for a partnership review.
On Twitter, he wrote: “Deeply disappointed that @ MercedesAMGF1 is accepting sponsorship from the Kingspan disguise company while the Grenfell investigation is ongoing. I’ll write to Mercedes to ask them to reconsider. The Grenfell community deserves better. “
Mercedes is aware of the criticism and while it hasn’t offered to cancel the sponsorship deal, Wolff said it would be happy to learn more about the aftermath of the Grenfell United disaster.
In a letter published on Mercedes’ social media channels, Wolff wrote: “The tragedy of the fire in Grenfell Tower was unimaginable for me and should never have happened.
“On behalf of our team, I sincerely apologize to you for the additional pain this announcement has caused. That was never our intention.
“The work of the public inquiry to determine the full causes of the tragedy is vital. Before entering into our partnership, we looked closely at Kingspan to understand the role their products played in the events in Grenfell.
“Kingspan has stated that they were not involved in the design or construction of the Grenfell Tower cladding system and that a small percentage of their product was used, without their knowledge, to replace part of the system that did not conform to building codes and was unsafe.
“I know this in no way changes the terrible tragedy you have suffered or the deep and ongoing pain in your community, and I would like to thank Grenfell United for offering to meet me in person so I can learn and understand better can.” .
“I look forward to getting together as soon as possible.”
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