Ferrari's Mission Winnow logos to return at Bahrain
- Published on 06 Mar 2019 11:40
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Ferrari will reinstate their Mission Winnow logos at the second round of the season in Bahrain.
Yesterday, Ferrari confirmed that the Mission Winnow brand would not be present on the SF90 at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Mission Winnow is an initiative that was launched prior to the Japanese Grand Prix last year between Ferrari and Philip Morris International (PMI).
PMI has repeatedly denied any connection with its tobacco brand, amid strict tobacco advertising laws.
Health departments in both Australia and Europe have expressed concern over Mission Winnow. Ferrari is expected to operate once again as 'Scuderi Ferrari Mission Winnow' following the Australian Grand Prix, as the brand was dropped from the entry list for the first round of the year.
“Mission Winnow will remain the title sponsor of Scuderia Ferrari in 2019,” said PMI’s director of global communications Tommaso Di Giovanni to RaceFans.net.
“However, our activation will be different in Australia than in other countries. We will announce additional details in the lead up to the race in Melbourne.
“Although we acknowledge the position of the State of Victoria, we continue to believe that Mission Winnow complies with relevant laws related to our activities around the world. Mission Winnow does not and will not advertise or promote any PMI-branded tobacco or e-cigarette products.”
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Replies (5)
Login to replyRam Samartha
Posts: 1,172
It all seems kind of sketchy. PMI is a de facto tobacco products company and now they expect everyone to believe they've suddenly become some sort of humanitarian organization? It doesn't really bother me to have a tobacco company as a sponsor but by taking the logo off the car for even one race, it seems they are admitting it is tobacco related.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well, PMI is a group/concern or what we could call it, they could have multiple different kinds of companies under their rule. But this is most definitely a very subtle tobacco sponsorship. Average Joe won't notice, but we who are clued in are, And Im pretty sure this add is targetting the hardcore fans.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Agreed. Does anyone know what Mission Winnow was "officially" supposed to be about? I read their website and it was ambiguous as hell. Was it an initiative? A group driving innovation? I have no clue. It's almost shameless that they didn't even try to mask this properly. They could have done something akin to Johnnie Walker with pledges for good causes. But instead they offered a funky Marlboro M expecting people not to notice?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Aside from being a kinda "go Ferrari" thingie? No idea. It's clear as mud, aside from the totally not Tobacco sponsorship. And Johnnie Walker enjoys the fact spirits ain't banned, so they can go with their Black Label on most track, and "don'tdriveanddrink" on others.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
" ambiguous as hell" and "shameless that they didn't even try to mask this properly," exactly.