Mercedes has denied rumors that Lewis Hamilton gave away his trophy for finishing third in the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship to an anonymous fan at the FIA's prize-giving ceremony.
The FIA and Mercedes have recently been at odds following the world motorsport governing body's investigation into Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff and F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff over supposed allegations of a conflict of interest.
However, the investigation was subsequently dropped after a backlash from F1 and Mercedes, along with the team's rivals, who denied initiating the FIA's action.
But during a press conference ahead of Friday’s evening’s prize-giving in Baku, Hamilton lashed out at the FIA for its handling of events earlier in the week and for questioning the integrity of Susie Wolff.
The seven-time world champion also questioned the governing body’s sustainability efforts following its decision to hold its prize-giving in Baku instead of Paris, where its headquarters are located.
Furthermore, the Briton was also surprised to learn that next year’s FIA end-of-year event is set to take place in Africa, in Rwanda.
Hello. I was at the Gala yesterday. Lewis Hamilton gave me the award and left. I have the prize at home now. pic.twitter.com/dNg7TSk0Ir
— Nihad Nesirli (@nihadcelona) December 9, 2023
After Hamilton left Friday’s ceremony without his FIA trophy, rumors erupted on social media claiming that was a sign of discontent on the part of Hamilton.
The speculation gathered additional pace when a fan posted on X a claim that Hamilton had gifted the trophy to him.
But Mercedes put the wild conjecture to rest in a statement released on Sunday.
“Immediately after leaving the stage, and as has been done at previous prizegivings, Lewis accepted the offer from officials for the trophy to be sent on to the team and therefore left it in their care,” Mercedes revealed.
“We can confirm he did not give the trophy to anyone ‘as a gift’ as has been speculated.”
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