Anti-Tobacco Law Causes Confusion in Brazil

A new law in Brazil, limiting tobacco advertising, has led Formula One World Champions Ferrari to remove all their Marlboro logos at Interlagos.

However, Brazil's Minister of Health Humberto Costa is confident a compromise will be reached before Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix in order to allow the teams to sport their tobacco liveries.

Under a new law introduced by Costa's predecessor Jose Serra, tobacco advertising is only allowed in indoor locations in Brazil, and some of the five teams sponsored by tobacco companies are unsure they will be able to use their normal liveries at the Interlagos race.

Costa said the Brazilian government, however, was trying to find a solution ahead of the race.

"It's not about loosening the law. But we have to find a compromise," Costa told Brazil's Agencia Estado.

The Ferrari team, sponsored by Marlboro, have decided to remove their tobacco livery, while other teams like Renault, Jordan, McLaren and BAR are still sporting their logos.

"So far we haven't heard there's any problem with using the Lucky Strike livery," said BAR team manager Ron Meadows. "We have to race with it, but if there's a change we simply remove the logos from the cars. That's the easy part."