Tobacco Likely to Stay in F1, Says Mosley

Cigarette sponsorship is likely to remain in Formula One beyond a European Union ban on tobacco advertising next year, the head of world motor sport's governing body said on Friday.

"Everything was fixed as far as we were concerned for (a global ban from) the end of 2006," International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley told a Monaco Grand Prix news conference.

"Then unfortunately the health department of the (European) Commission went and moved the date...to the end of July 2005. Of course that interfered with all the contracts so then arrangements had to be made to keep racing despite what the EU have done," said Mosley.

"This has driven some of the races outside Europe and now of course people are saying why stop in 2006? Meanwhile we were told by our lawyers that we were not in a position to impose a ban because that would be interfering with the commercial side of the sport.

"In a nutshell it's a complete mess...and I think it (sponsorship) probably will go on after 2006."

Five of the 10 teams, including champions Ferrari and top rivals Renault, BAR and McLaren are sponsored by cigarette companies as are Jordan. Both BMW-powered Williams and Ford-owned Jaguar have no-tobacco policies.

The Austrian Grand Prix was axed from the 18-race calendar this year with Bahrain and China making their debuts and the San Marino race is expected to go in 2005. Spain's contract was renewed this month, with a clause linked to local tobacco laws.

Mosley said he would have preferred a clean break from tobacco at an agreed date which would also have allowed other industries such as food and pharmaceuticals to take the cigarette companies' place.

Ferrari boss Jean Todt said at the last Spanish Grand Prix that he expected tobacco to maintain an involvement in motor racing and his team intended to work with sponsors Phillip Morris for as long as they could.