More than 160 anti-tobacco and public health organizations have called on Formula 1 (F1) to ban all tobacco sponsorships, extending beyond traditional cigarettes to include newer nicotine products like pouches, ahead of the upcoming racing season. The open letter, signed by groups including the French Comité National Contre le Tabagisme (CNCT), argues that F1’s pursuit of younger audiences is being exploited by tobacco companies to promote addictive products.
The concerns center on sponsorships by Philip Morris International (PMI) of Scuderia Ferrari, promoting its Zyn nicotine pouch brand, and British American Tobacco (BAT)’s support of McLaren with its Velo product. Logos for these products are prominently displayed on the cars and drivers’ racing suits, including those of reigning world champion Lando Norris and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who sported a special livery for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. These sponsorships are also heavily promoted on social media platforms, reaching audiences of hundreds of millions.
The organizations’ letter highlights F1’s recent efforts to broaden its appeal to younger demographics, citing partnerships with The Walt Disney Company, LEGO, and Mattel’s Hot Wheels. They point to data indicating that over 4 million children aged 8-12 in the European Union and the United States follow F1, and that 54% of the championship’s TikTok followers and 40% of its Instagram followers are under the age of 25.
The groups warn of the health risks associated with nicotine pouches, emphasizing the addictive nature of nicotine and its potential impact on adolescent brain development, which continues until around age 25. Data from the United States shows that nicotine pouches are the only tobacco-related product experiencing increased employ among young people. Karl Erik Lund, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, has stated that whereas less harmful than cigarettes, nicotine pouches are not risk-free and should be reserved for former smokers unable to quit through approved treatments.
The letter urges F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to enforce a comprehensive ban on tobacco industry sponsorship, encompassing all tobacco and nicotine products. “By sponsoring F1 teams, tobacco manufacturers seek to entice the same young audience that F1 strives to attract. F1 must not be complicit in these actions,” the organizations wrote. Separate letters were also sent to the CEOs of Disney, Lego, and Mattel, requesting their support for the ban.
This is not the first instance of anti-tobacco groups challenging the industry’s involvement in motorsports. In France, the CNCT successfully sued Philip Morris and blocked the company’s deployment of the “Mission Winnow” branding during the 2019 Moto GP at Le Mans. The current push reflects a broader effort to counter the tobacco industry’s strategy of promoting new products in markets where restrictions on traditional cigarettes are tightening.
