Ferrari will Comply with Tobacco Rules

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo revealed yesterday that Ferrari and Philip Morris extended their deal until the end of 2011, with the announcement coming a month after a pan-European ban on tobacco sponsorship kicked in.

But Philip Morris International spokesman Tommaso di Giovanni made it clear today that the Marlboro brand would stay on the Ferrari car only in those countries that still permitted tobacco advertising, such as Malaysia and Bahrain.

"It (the sponsorship) is going to comply with the rules and regulations wherever we do business," he said. "There are countries where tobacco sponsorship is obviously not allowed. In those countries we will continue to support Ferrari without branding."

Di Giovanni would not comment on future commercial activities with the team, such as speculation that Marlboro could put Ferrari branding on cigarette packets as a way around the legislation.