F1 still driving addiction

A new report commissioned by STOP shows an escalation in advertising reach by tobacco companies which sponsor Formula 1 motor racing teams.

During the 2022 race season, British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International (PMI) spent an estimated $40 million sponsoring the McLaren and Ferrari teams respectively.

They also benefited from the popularity of the Netflix hit “Formula 1: Drive to Survive”. The program may be violating broadcasting restrictions on tobacco advertising in many countries around the world.

The report, Driving Addiction: F1, Netflix and Cigarette Company Advertising, details how Netflix streamed more than one billion minutes of “Drive to Survive” that contained tobacco-related branding. And increasingly younger and more female viewers are being exposed to this branding.

STOP says that it’s time for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, F1’s governing body, to finally ban all tobacco sponsorship in the sport once and for all. Until it does, F1 risks exposing every fan to harmful tobacco industry advertising.

• Read the full report here.
• Find out more about motorsport sponsorship.