A new sponsor causing controversy at Mercedes

The German team recently reached an agreement with the company Kingspan, whose name is cited in the investigation into the Grenfell disaster in the United Kingdom.

Published on 03/12/2021 à 17:41

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A new sponsor causing controversy at Mercedes

Kingspan company named in Grenfell disaster / © Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

The announcement of the team's latest partner Mercedes caused an outcry in Britain.

The seven-time world champions formalized an agreement last Wednesday with the company Kingspan, specialized in insulation and building envelope solutions.

However, the company is cited in the investigation into the Grenfell disaster which cost the lives of 72 people when a 24-storey building caught fire on June 14, 2017 in west London.

Kingspan insulation products were found in the cladding of the tower ravaged by the fire. Lewis Hamilton publicly supported the victims during the commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of the tragedy.

The Grenfell United association was moved after the announcement of the partnership. She decided to send a letter to the main team Toto wolff last Thursday.

« Kingspan played a central role in the pain and sorrow we experience today, she should suffer some form of public censure for their recklessness and neglect of human life ", wrote Grenfell United, in comments reported by the british daily The Guardian.

Michael Gove, the British Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities, Housing and Communities, reacted via Twitter by saying that “ Grenfell community deserved better ».

Grenfell United also called for the Mercedes-Kingspan partnership to be canceled. Wolff was quick to respond to them, in a message broadcast this Friday by the Mercedes team.

« The Grenfell tragedy is unimaginable and should never have happened, wrote the Austrian. On behalf of our team, I would like to extend our sincerest apologies for the additional pain this announcement is causing you. This was never our intention.

The public inquiry which must establish the causes of the tragedy is vital. Before entering into this partnership, we spoke with Kingspan to understand the role played by their products in the events.

Kingspan said it had no role in the design or construction of the cladding used on Grenfell Tower. Only a small percentage of their product was used as a replacement in a system that did not comply with building regulations and was dangerous, without the company's knowledge.

I know that this in no way changes the tragedy that you have suffered, nor does it ease your pain and that of your community. I would like to thank Grenfell United for offering to organize a meeting to better understand the situation and learn the necessary lessons. ».

Wolff promised to meet with the victims' association as soon as possible.