No smoke without fire: Tobacco companies in quiet return to F1
PARIS: Tobacco giants Philip Morris and British American Tobacco have formed partnerships with their scientific research subsidiaries and Formula 1 teams Ferrari and Mclaren more than a decade after cigarette advertising was banned from the sport.
US giant Philip Morris International (PMI), whose Marlboro brand was long associated with Ferrari, re-entered the sport last October, branding Ferrari cars with “Mission Winnow” and a logo that hints at the white-on-red triangles of the old Marlboro packs.
Since the Japan Grand Prix in October the Ferrari cars, drivers’ helmets and outfits have featured the Mission Winnow logo of three white arrows. Since 2006, Formula 1’s ruling body FIA has been firmly opposed to any advertising or sponsoring of cigarettes or tobacco.
But with teams struggling to meet their budget requirements, the allure of advertising revenue from so-called “Big Tobacco” is clear to see.
Mclaren cars are to feature advertising for “A Better Tomorrow”, a British American Tobacco (BAT) scientific research subsidiary linked to less controversial e-cigarettes.
But opposition to the partnerships between motor rac- ing and tobacco groups is mounting. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation said it was concerned Philip Morris branding on Ferrari cars and driver uniforms at the Japan GP had breached Australian regulations when it was broadcast in the country.
But PMI communications director Tommaso di Giovanni insisted Philipp Morris had not broken any laws.
“The logo on the outfits and cars and on our internet site comply with laws in Australia,” he said. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said they are looking into broadcasts by Australian networks of the Japan Grand Prix.