Geneva (AFP)

Tobacco companies are reinvesting in Formula 1 despite several bans in force, with advertising spending rising to the "worrying" figure of $ 100 million (around EUR 85 million) last year, according to a report released Wednesday.

According to this study, co-authored by the specialist magazine Formula Money and the anti-tobacco NGO STOP, the spending of tobacco giants Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) in favor of F1 teams Ferrari and McLaren are expected to reach $ 115 million (approx. EUR 98 million) in 2020.

A return of investments, after years of decline caused by awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco, anti-smoking laws in several countries and a ban within F1.

Last year, PMI and BAT launched a partnership between their scientific research subsidiaries and Ferrari and McLaren, more than a decade after the WHO convention banning tobacco advertising.

If they no longer promote their traditional cigarettes, they are now promoting new products "smokeless" but containing tobacco, without directly mentioning brands.

"Advertising these products attracts new smokers, especially young people, which causes harm to future generations," said Dr Rüdiger Krech, doctor working at the World Health Organization (WHO), in a statement.

"We must not go back in the fight against tobacco", which kills more than seven million people each year according to the WHO, he adds.

- "Return on investment" -

The report estimates that media exposure from F1 racing in 2019 may have brought in "at least $ 150 million" for "Mission Winnow," an organization linked to Philip Morris, and $ 27.6 million for the BAT brands.

“F1 is a global sport that attracts over 500 million fans, mostly men and young people, from the popular categories. The tobacco companies have a real return on their investment,” said Caroline Reid of Formula Money.

According to the report, since F1 was founded 70 years ago, $ 4.4 billion (EUR 3.74 million) has been spent on advertising and partnerships with tobacco companies.

The International Automobile Federation, the governing body of F1, has been opposed since 2006 to any advertising in favor of cigarettes or tobacco.

"The FIA ​​claims to want to promote a positive contribution to society. It is impossible as long as it is linked to an industry that causes so much harm," retorts Mary Assunta, a member of STOP, in a statement.

Contacted by AFP, the FIA ​​replied in an email that it "remains firmly opposed to tobacco advertising and continues to stand by its recommendations of 2003".

"We are not, however, in a position where we can interfere with private commercial agreements between teams and their sponsors," added the body.

Philip Morris assured him that the partnership with Ferrari "is not and will not be used to advertise tobacco products or products containing nicotine", specifying through their lawyer that their "activities with their partners respect the laws in force ".

"PMI and BAT assure that they are not directly advertising for cigarettes. But according to trademark law, they are associated with products containing tobacco", underlines Phil Chamberlain, member of STOP.

© 2020 AFP