A report from a group of academics and public health organizations claims that the sponsorship of Formula 1 by the tobacco industry could “drive addiction” to nicotine and cigarettes among a younger generation of fans.
According to the report of Stop (Stopping Tobacco Organisations and Products), F1’s efforts to appeal to a younger audience globally align with British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International (PMI).
F1, acquired by Liberty Media in 2016 from CVC for $8 billion, has been closely associated with the industry since decades.
The sport banned tobacco advertisements in 2006 due to tighter international regulations. In 2019, BAT, a London-listed company , returned to F1 in a partnership McLaren’s Woking-based F1 , “focusing exclusively on potentially reduced-risk products”.
The tobacco industry has invested in new products such as heat-not-burn and e-cigarettes, which are considered less harmful. This has led to it returning to a sport which has expanded over the past few years, racing in more countries, and broadcasting content on new media platforms.
Philip Morris, New York listed company that sponsored McLaren whose cars were famously raced in red and white Marlboro, continues today a partnership.
Stop stated that although Philip Morris claimed its branding had not appeared “on cars or driver apparel since 2007,” Philip Morris has the “status to be able describe itself as a Ferrari Partner”.
According to the report, BAT spends $30 million per year on McLaren and Philip Morris, $10 million, with Ferrari. The tobacco industry is also estimated to have spent over $4.6 billion since 1968 in Formula 1.nMcLaren FI now features advertising for Velo Nicotine Pouches
The report was released ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Texas. It warns that viewers exposed to BAT Vuse ecigarettes and Velo nicotine packet brands through F1 Kids. This broadcast is aimed at younger fans and features youth commentators with cartoon avatars. McLaren cars are featured on some races. F1 TV’s streaming service also features archived race footage. Formula 1 uses images and clips from previous races to promote its sport on social networks.
Phil Chamberlain said that the “emerging danger” is tobacco companies “enjoying cigarette advertisements for free from past sponsorship deals as F1 capitalizes on its archive”.
Jorge Alday, the director of Stop at Vital Strategies (a public health organization), urged regulators intervene. It is shocking that F1 programs aimed at young children expose them to advertising for addictive and harmful tobacco products.
Bloomberg Philanthropies launched the Stop network in 2018. The group produced three previous reports on tobacco use in F1, with the most recent focusing on Netflix’s Drive To Survive hit series.
BAT’s spokesperson said: “Our goal is to create a world without smoke, where smokers are switching to smokeless products.” Our nicotine and tobacco products should only be used by adults and not anyone under the age of 18. We work closely together with our partners to ensure that all marketing materials are fully compliant with the laws and regulations of each territory.
A Philip Morris spokesperson said that the company partners with “Scuderia Ferrai and Formula 1 in compliance with all applicable law.”
A spokesperson for F1 stated: “Formula 1 adheres all applicable laws on our race markets.”
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