Sponsorship ends amidst criticism.
Formula One team Mercedes have called off their partnership with insulation firm Kingspan following public outrage ever since the deal’s announcement.
The defending World Champions had announced their partnership with Kingspan earlier in December, which saw the insulation firm’s branding feature on the Mercedes cars at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The deal received immediate backlash from the fans around the world, who were quick to remind the team how Kingspan was involved in the 2017 Grenfell Tower incident that saw 72 people lose their lives due to a horrific fire. The survivors, victim groups and even the UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove publicly criticised Mercedes for the deal.
Mercedes released the following statement:
“The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Kingspan today announced that they have mutually agreed to end their partnership.
“Both parties have subsequently concluded that it is not appropriate for the partnership to move forward at the current point in time, notwithstanding its intended positive impact, and we have therefore agreed that it will be discontinued with immediate effect.”
Kingspan also released a statement, which read:
“Sustainability and sport are two long-standing passions and commitments at Kingspan. When Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team approached us to chair their new Sustainability Working Group, we saw a unique opportunity to bring the two together in a way that would support a sport we love, while bringing sustainability to a world stage.
“We are deeply aware of the sensitivities raised in recent days, and so we have jointly agreed that it’s not appropriate to move forward at the current point in time.
“Much has been written about this over the past few days, and out of consideration for our customers and all the great people who work for us, we believe we must respond. We had no role in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment. However, our Kingspan Insulation UK business is a core participant in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and fully supports the Inquiry’s important work.”
The pressure group made up of the victims and survivors of the Grenfell tragedy, Grenfell United, also said:
“We’re pleased to hear this morning’s news that Mercedes have decided to terminate their sponsorship deal with Kingspan with immediate effect,
“We met Toto Wolff and shared the facts from the Grenfell inquiry, and Mercedes came to their own conclusion. Mercedes have … shown that people can be put before profit.”
Mercedes’ talisman Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, had earlier clarified this week about how he had nothing to do with the deal and wasn’t involved in the two parties coming together either.
The termination of the deal means that ahead of the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, the branding from the team’s cars will be removed.
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