MELBOURNE: Formula 1 heavyweights Ferrari has removed its global partner, Philip Morris International from its team name at the start of the 2019 season this month, F1i reports.
As per the Formula One’s ruling body FIA’s team entry list that was released this week, Ferrari’s team name was changed from ‘Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow’ to just ‘Scuderia Ferrari’. It remains to be seen whether the team refrains from using the ‘Mission Winnow’ logo on its drivers’ jerseys and cars as well.
Ferrari had done so earlier in 2011, when it dropped the company’s popular cigarette brand, Marlboro’s logo during its previous association with the brand.
Mission Winnow is Philip Morris’ CSR initiative which aims to create engagement around the role of science, technology and innovation as a powerful force for good in any industry.
However, Ferrari’s latest association with the tobacco company, which began in mid-2018, has come under investigation by Australian authorities a month ago. Ironically, they claim that the livery of the Ferrari car resembles Marlboro. The company has been accused of indirectly advertising it by attempting to smartly bend the rules.
Australia’s federal government has made advertising regulations under its tobacco control laws much stricter.
