Plans to ban tobacco advertising in Formula One are set to be unveiled later today. Cigarette sponsorship currently earns an estimated £250m at all levels of motor sport, while top Formula One teams such as Ferrari and McLaren rely heavily on tobacco money. The president of Formula One's world governing body, the FIA, plans to end tobacco advertising by the end of the 2006 season. Max Mosley has urged teams to seek alternative sources of funding.
The move will boost several European grands prix whose future has been threatened by national tobacco sponsorship bans. The 1999 Belgian Grand Prix was nearly closed at the last minute because of planned local laws on advertising amid rumours that Spa Francorchamps' slot on the calendar could go to a country - such as China - who allowed tobacco ads.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
