MARLBORO * WINSTON * L&M * CAMEL * PARLIAMENT * KENT

The legend of Marlboro and Formula One cars seems to come to an end. Philip Morris International decided to remove the name of its legendary brand and use only “barcode” logo. That’s why at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari ran its Formula One cars without Marlboro cigarette logos.

Marlboro has been the sponsor of motor racing since 1972. In September 2005 Ferrari and Philip Morris signed an extension of their sponsorship arrangement with Marlboro until 2011. When tobacco sponsorship becomes illegal in the European Union, tobacco companies willy-nilly were needed to end with sponsorship.

Even Bahrain, Monaco and Shanghai still allow tobacco branding. Philip Morris confirmed that logo of its famous Marlboro brand will no longer appear on its cars.

Formula One and sponsorship of tobacco companies becomes so closely related that it is hard to imagine the future of motor racing lacking the branded logos. Removing of cigarette brands from cars is not only an end to sponsorship but it is a new image for entire Formula One.