Ecclestone: Even Ferrari Need Tobacco Money

Formula One is so dependent on the money from cigarette makers that even a top team like Ferrari would struggle without it, says Bernie Ecclestone.

"If we lose tobacco sponsorship in Formula One there will be a rupture," the F1 supremo told Sunday's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "People don't realise how bad it would be."

The European Union is due to extend a ban on tobacco advertising to radio, newspapers and the internet next year while also outlawing tobacco sponsorship of sporting competitions with cross-border interest.

Half of the Formula One teams are heavily sponsored by cigarette companies and Ferrari have American tobacco giant Philip Morris, part of Altria Group Inc, on board.

Ecclestone said Italy's World Champions Ferrari would not be as competitive if they were to lose tobacco money.

"Then they would have to give up their wind tunnel or one of their test tracks and they would be on the same level as a team like BAR. And then there could be Ferrari executives who would rather quit than start losing," Ecclestone added.

He said once again that McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen was his favourite for the 2004 Championship starting next weekend in Melbourne but said Ferrari's six-times World Champion Michael Schumacher should not be ruled out.

"You should not write off Michael Schumacher," Ecclestone said. "It would be naive to think that Ferrari and (tyre suppliers) Bridgestone have forgotten how to build a fast car."

Ecclestone said he believed Finn Raikkonen had the potential to become a great driver but still had to live up to expectations. "Nobody was born a star," he said. "You mature to become one. Give him time."