A tough stance
The news agency Reuters took up the appeal of 162 anti-tobacco and pro-health groups, which sent the Formula One Group a harsh letter to ask for banning of sponsorship agreements of some teams with the tobacco giants – commonly referred to by the name of Big Tobacco.
The reason? The broad youth audience – increasingly increasing – of the category is at risk of addiction also due to the advertising messages conveyed by Formula 1.
The accusation against F1: “Don’t be complicit”
The associations – led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the American Lung Association – explain: “By sponsoring Formula 1 teams, tobacco companies are trying to reach the young people that the category has conquered. F1 must not be complicit.”
Ferrari and McLaren in the sights
There are two teams on which the attention of anti-tobacco groups has focused, namely Ferrari for its partnership with Philip Morris International and the McLaren for collaboration with British American Tobacco.
The two tobacco giants sponsor two nicotine pouches, Zyn for PMI and Velo for BAT, with the brands present on the cars of the two top Formula 1 teams.
In response to this letter Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco responded that their marketing campaigns are aimed at an adult audience.
According to an F1 press release for the 2025 season, there are almost 4 million children between 8 and 12 years old who actively follow sport. And the presence in recent years of brands such as Disney, Lego and Hot Wheels is anything but random.
