- F1 has banned cigarette advertising since 2006
- The letter points to F1’s ‘significant youth viewership’ as a reason to expand this ban to all tobacco and nicotine products
- F1 focusing on ‘youth-focused cross-sponsorships’ with Hello Kitty, Disney, Lego, and Mattel
Attorneys general from 19 states and jurisdictions in the United States have written to Formula One and the International Automobile Federation (FIA), to express concerns regarding tobacco industry sponsorship in the sport.
The letter was addressed to Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula One, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president and chief executive of the FIA. It also included the respective headquarters of McLaren and Ferrari in copy.
Despite a ban on cigarette advertising within Formula One since 2006, both teams have partners from within the tobacco industry.
The two teams have circumvented this regulation by publicising nicotine pouch companies in recent seasons. In fact, Ferrari have been partnered with Phillip Morris International (PMI) since 1973 – most famously through the Marlboro brand – making it one of the longest-running commercial partnerships in the sport.
PMI-subsidiary Zyn has appeared on the Ferrari cars since the final race of the 2025 season. McLaren, meanwhile, has been partnered with British American Tobacco since 2019 and displayed Velo branding for the last five years – this has also extended to its IndyCar team on numerous occasions.
The letter points out the contradiction between Formula One’s pursuit for a younger audience and its acceptance of these types of companies being present in its product.
It read: ‘Given Formula 1’s significant youth viewership and the danger of exposing young people to highly addictive and harmful nicotine products, we call on the [FIA] and Formula 1 to expand its existing policy prohibiting cigarette sponsorships to prohibit sponsorship involving all tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, and to terminate all current sponsorships involving these products.’
The attorneys general have a long history targeting the tobacco industry having successfully sued in the 1990s ‘to recover billions of dollars in health care costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses’. This movement ‘banned tobacco advertising targeting youth’ and ‘specifically limit[ed] sponsorship of auto racing events’.
The letter pointed to a 2022 study which found that ‘tobacco marketing exposure is associated with youth nicotine pouch use’. At the same time, Formula One is focusing on ‘youth-focused cross-sponsorships’ with the likes of Hello Kitty, Disney, Lego and Mattel.
It also acknowledged that neither Lego or Mattel allow Velo branding to appear on their products, highlighting an awareness on the impact to children.
The letter concluded: ‘We take seriously our responsibility to protect American families, who have been free of most tobacco advertising for decades, thanks in large part to the MSA and television broadcast laws restricting cigarette advertising.
‘We therefore urge FIA and Formula 1 to do their part to safeguard youth by terminating all current tobacco and nicotine product sponsorships immediately and expanding existing policies prohibiting cigarette sponsorships to include sponsorship by newer tobacco products, such as nicotine pouches.
‘Formula 1 fans, especially the youngest viewers, deserve to enjoy race day without being targeted by the tobacco industry.’
Formula One currently holds three races in the US and has invested significant time and money into expanding its footprint in the market – this warning will therefore carry weight.
This is also not the first time a ban on all tobacco sponsorship deals has been called for, with 160 anti-tobacco and health organisations pushing for the same outcome in March.
Ultimately, it will fall on the FIA to insert this legislation into writing as Formula One has no power to control the sponsors that its teams to choose to partner with.
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