Marlboro Ferrari sponsor and cigarette maker Philip Morris has removed the logos of its controversial Mission Winnow program from the team’s cars, citing “suspicion and an abundance of skepticism about our industry.”
The logo will not appear on the team’s cars at the French Grand Prix or other races in the European Union, confirmed Riccardo Parino, Vice President for Partnerships and Engagement Programs at PMI.
“The Mission Winnow logo will not appear on the paintwork of Scuderia Ferrari during the race in the EU from the French Grand Prix this weekend,” he said.
PMI’s Mission Winnow logos first appeared on Ferrari’s cars at the 2018 Japanese Grand Prix. They have drawn criticism from consumer rights groups who claim the program is an attempt to circumvent rules banning tobacco advertising.
“Mission Winnow respects all laws and regulations and is constantly striving to find distinctive ways to promote ideology-free dialogue and build strong partnerships based on shared values,” continued Parino.
“We recognize the mistrust and the great skepticism towards our industry. However, our intent is not to create controversy about the application of the logo, but rather to focus on reshaping global conversations, building communities and supporting innovative ideas that drive positive change. “
After their introduction, the Mission Winnow logos appeared on Ferrari’s cars in less than half of all races in 2019. In 2020, Ferrari did not display the Mission Winnow logos on their cars at 17 races, following a complaint from the Codacons group to the Italian government.
Branding returned earlier this season, including a new bright green logo on the car’s engine covers. This has already occurred in several races in the European Union.
McLaren, the only other team to have logos associated with a tobacco producer, also announced changes to its paint job for this weekend. The team will pay tribute to its late shareholder Mansour Ojjeh at the French Grand Prix.
This article will be updated
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French Grand Prix 2021
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