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Tell Ferrari to End Its Addiction to Tobacco Money
  1. Signatures
    254 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Ferrari Community
  2. Created By
    Brie Cadman
    Charlottesville, VA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

 

Marlboro, owned by Philip Morris International, has been the title sponsor of Ferrari’s Formula One racing team for over a decade. Their current agreement ends this year, but talks are on the table to extend the tobacco sponsorship deal, which is reportedly worth close to $1 billion over ten years. Though the sponsorship doesn’t involve any branding on the car – that has been banned – history indicates that the Marlboro logo will make itself known. Just last year, Ferrari came under fire for using the Marlboro barcode on its car, as part of a subliminal advertising scheme designed to circumvent international laws. Ferrari removed the barcode last year.

Tobacco companies have had a long history of race sponsorship, using the cars as repetitive advertising to a captive and receptive audience. Branding and advertising is a key component of getting youth and young adults to try their products and become life-long customers.

Ferrari is the only team in Formula One that has a commercial sponsorship from the tobacco industry. Their official name – Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro -- helps Philip Morris International market their cigarettes worldwide and continues to promote a product that is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide.

Ferrari can take the responsible step and end tobacco’s ties with racing once and for all. 

Photo credit: Dr. Keats

 

Recent Signatures

Discontinue Sponsorship From Philip Morris International

Greetings,

Ferrari's team is the only Formula One group that is still sponsored by the tobacco industry, namely, Philip Morris International. Last year, Ferrari came under fire for using subliminal advertising to promote the Marlboro brand and imagery. Clearly, they are not an impartial sponsor.

The tobacco industry has a long history of deceptive and egregious marketing tactics. They don’t give away millions for nothing in return. And by accepting their sponsorship, Ferrari is tacitly endorsing an industry and company that contributes to addict and cause disease and death in consumers throughout the world. Critical to selling their lethal product is branding and promotion – and Ferrari is complicit in that.

As Ferrari’s current sponsorship deal with Philip Morris International is up for renewal, we ask that you join in with the rest of the racing world and deny sponsorship from the tobacco industry.

[Your name]

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