Ford Chief Warns Against Tobacco Reliance

Staging more Grand Prix races in Asia does not mean Formula One constructors can continue to rely on tobacco sponsorship, Ford's head of F1 operations Richard Parry-Jones has warned.

"The flight to Asia won't solve the problem," he told Autosport. "Ford and other companies don't want to be linked with a sport which relies on tobacco for its commercial health."

Hosting races in Asia, with China making its debut this year and India also lobbying for a race, allows Formula One to escape stringent European Union (EU) rules against tobacco advertising.

Austria was bumped off the F1 calendar this year and the San Marino Grand Prix is under threat as the sport seeks to limit the effect of EU anti-tobacco advertising legislation.

The EU 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 the 10 teams in F1, including McLaren and Ferrari, are heavily sponsored by tobacco money. Parry-Jones's comments, just days after Japan became the latest signatory to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, echo those of Frank Williams.

"We don't want Formula One to be known around the world as a tobacco-driven industry. That is bad for the non-tobacco teams," the team boss of Williams said last month.

Williams's team ditched all cigarette sponsorship in 2000 after years of dependence.

Expanding Globally

As Europe seeks to get away from tobacco sponsorship, F1 is expanding globally.

As well as China a new circuit in Bahrain will make its debut this year. Turkey is expected to be part of the championship soon and India is keen to join up too. A second Grand Prix in the United States and a first in Russia are also possible additions.

Despite the anti-tobacco stance adopted by Ford and Williams, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says the sport is so dependent on money from cigarette makers that even a top team like Ferrari would struggle without it.

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