MERCEDES have ended their controversial sponsorship deal with Kingspan, saying it is “not appropriate” to continue the partnership, it was announced today.

Kingspan’s logo appeared on the helmet of Lewis Hamilton at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, sparking protests after it emerged Kingspan products were used in Grenfell Tower, where 72 people were killed in a fire four years ago.

Mercedes said in a statement: “The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team and Kingspan have announced they have mutually agreed to end their partnership.

“Announced last week, the new partnership included Kingspan chairing a new sustainability working group for the team, and aimed to deliver carbon reductions through their leading-edge environmentally sustainable solutions for the team’s future campus.

“However, 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.”

Last week Lewis Hamilton insisted he had “nothing” to do with the deal, adding that he understood team principal Toto Wolff was “sorting” it.

“I had nothing to do with the team signing any of the sponsors,” said Hamilton. “Tommy [Hilfiger] was the only one I probably brought to the team.

“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.”

Grenfell United, a group comprising survivors and bereaved families, said it welcomed the development, which followed a meeting with Wolff last week.

“We’re pleased to hear this morning’s news that Mercedes have decided to terminate their sponsorship deal with Kingspan with immediate effect,” a statement read.

“We met with Toto Wolff and shared the facts from the Grenfell inquiry and Mercedes came to their own conclusion.

“Mercedes have taken a stance in their decision to disassociate themselves with Kingspan. They have shown that people can be put before profit.”

Grenfell United thanked their supporters in an open letter posted on Twitter. It read: “Most importantly, we would like to thank every single one of you that supported us and continued to push our message out publicly.

“It clearly shows that things can be achieved through a unified effort.

“With justice still so far away, it’s these small steps that encourage us to keep fighting.”

In a statement of their own, Kingspan stressed the reciprocal nature of the decision, saying it had “jointly agreed that it’s not appropriate to move forward at the current point in time.”